In brief
At a campaign rally in Pazardzhik, Iliana Iotova announced she would never allow Bulgarian troops to fight in Ukraine and would seek immediate diplomatic talks to resolve the conflict. The candidate also stressed the importance of geopolitical stability, European security, and preserving Bulgaria’s cultural heritage for future generations.
In Pazardzhik on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026, presidential candidate Iliana Iotova announced she would keep Bulgarian troops from fighting in Ukraine and push for immediate diplomatic talks to end the crisis.
According to BTA, Iotova and her running‑mate Kiril Valchev met with potential voters in southern Bulgaria, where she made the pledge that, if elected, she would never allow Bulgarian armed forces to leave for Ukraine.
She emphasized that geopolitical stability, foreign policy balance and European security depend on general peace, calling for an “immediate approach to resolving the crisis in Ukraine” and for an international moratorium on hostilities in the Black Sea.
In her speech, Iotova also spoke of the importance of preserving Bulgarian education, culture and folklore, arguing that these values create a “sustainable value system among young people.”
“Unlike those who say these are relics of the past, our view is that this patriotism is needed precisely now so that our children can have strong roots, and whatever may happen to them – no matter what storms may befall them – these roots will protect them and give them the self‑confidence of being heirs to a country exceptionally rich in culture and history,” Iotova told the audience.
The candidate’s focus on national security and cultural identity underscores her campaign’s broader message of keeping Bulgaria firmly within a stable European framework while safeguarding its heritage for future generations.
