Sofia, 29 August 2022 (dpa/MIA) - Bulgaria has begun talks with Russian state-owned Gazprom to revive a contract to tackle a gas shortage. "As a caretaker government, we want to finish what we already have as an agreement," acting Prime Minister Galab Donev said in a television interview on Monday evening. Gazprom had suspended all supplies to Bulgaria at the end of April, despite a contract running until the end of 2022, because the then pro-Western government in Sofia had refused to make payments in roubles. There was no change of geopolitical course, Donev said in response to accusations from the former government camp that the interim government wanted to change the foreign policy orientation of the EU and NATO member. It was not a matter of negotiating new contracts with Gazprom, but of securing the entire heating season, he said. Gazprom's response was expected on Monday. Meanwhile, demonstrators protested at the seat of government in Sofia against Bulgaria's cooperation with Gazprom. They erected several tents for a prolonged protest. Bulgaria is due to elect a new parliament on October 2.