Russian propaganda media spread the news based on an interview with Bulgarian Energy Minister Alexander Nikolov, who allegedly complained that the decision to refuse to pay in rubles for gas was too ill-considered and hasty, and now Bulgaria wants to overturn its decision. He also complained that the gas Bulgaria bought from the United States was too expensive.

According to Russian fact-checkers, Nikolov did not say this in an interview. On the contrary, the Minister of Energy stated that Bulgaria bought American gas cheaper than Russian. He also spoke about the use of gas as a tool of influence and the prospects for resuming negotiations with Gazprom on gas purchases:

At the same time, firstly, Russia is at war and an aggressor in this war; secondly, a particular company "Gazprom" is used as a political tool to create tension, and thirdly, in the commercial part, the most unpleasant - the fact that Russia is unpredictable partner, I do not think it makes sense to comment on whether to hold further negotiations with the company, " said Nikolov. It is not the first time Russian propaganda has deliberately lied about Bulgaria. Earlier, she had spread a fake that Bulgaria had decided to evict Ukrainian refugees.