Bulgaria urged to speed Lukoil ownership transfer
The U.S. Treasury imposed sanctions on Russian oil giants Rosneft and Lukoil to cut off funding for Moscow’s war. Financier Evgeniy Kanev said Bulgaria must act quickly to avoid market risks. He urged a change in Lukoil’s ownership, noting that the sale process has dragged on for months. Bulgarian authorities can pressure the company, a local legal entity, to accelerate the transfer or face possible sanctions.
Kanev mentioned two potential buyers: one linked to Azerbaijan’s Sukar and another a Turkish holding. He warned that selling to Turkey could create a monopoly and that caution is required. He stressed the government holds enough leverage to push the deal forward and must show clear progress within a month to avoid penalties.
