While the West has previously made strong efforts to welcome Russia into the international community, Putin seems set on reinforcing the Cold War mentality and focusing on Russia's traditional combination of military threats, economic influence and soft power in an attempt to recreate the past. Dr Bechev's report explains the deep-rooted and multi-level connections Russia uses to exploit its influence in Bulgaria. Both NATO and the EU need to take heed.
-Geoffrey Van Orden MEP and European Parliament’s rapporteur for Bulgaria's EU accession candidacy
