Russia expels 14 Bulgarian diplomats

The website of the Russian Foreign Ministry states that today, August 5, the Bulgarian ambassador Atanas Kristin received a note, which states that Moscow is declaring 14 assistants of the diplomatic missions and consulates of Bulgaria in Russia, as persona non grata.

The action is a response to the Bulgarian decision to declare 70 Russian diplomats and assistants working in Russian diplomatic missions in Bulgaria, as persona non grata.

The information on the ministry's website also lists the other decisions - the introduction of the quota principle in the missions in Bulgaria and Russia and the closure of the Russian consulate in Rousse, explicitly stressing that the responsibility for these actions lies with the government, headed by “Mr Petkov" (former Prime Minister).

"We believe that such actions not only cause significant damage to the traditional ties between our two countries, but also infringe on the rights of our compatriots, deprived of access to consular services," the Russian Foreign Ministry statement said.

"Such actions are a testimony to the ongoing degradation of the collective West, which is ready to sacrifice the interests of its partners just to harm Russia. The unconditional pursuit of this line by official Sofia is regrettable."

"We are convinced that friendly behaviour towards Russia has nothing to do with the national interests of Bulgaria and its people," the Russian Foreign Ministry website concludes.

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