Lukoil's trading company, Litasco, has declared that Bulgaria's recent actions concerning the company violate the Energy Charter Treaty, even though Russia has not ratified the treaty. This statement comes after Bulgaria's government decided to halt imports of Russian oil and the export of petroleum products made from Russian materials at Litasco's Burgas refinery. As of October 2025, Lukoil has been subject to U.S. sanctions, prompting the Bulgarian government to take these measures to manage its energy-related affairs more independently.

In response to these sanctions and the halt of Russian oil imports, the Bulgarian National Assembly passed a law on November 14, 2025, which introduced an external management system over Lukoil's entities in Bulgaria, including Neftochim Burgas AD and Lukoil Bulgaria EOOD. This legislation allows for a special commercial manager to take charge of the management of these companies starting from November 17, 2025. The move signifies Bulgaria's effort to sever ties with Russian energy influences amidst geopolitical tensions.

The implications of this ongoing dispute reflect broader trends in Europe as countries grapple with reducing dependency on Russian energy due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and rising geopolitical tensions. Bulgaria's actions may serve as a precedent for other European countries opting to reassess their relationships with Russian corporations in the energy sector.