Russian diplomats are leaving Bulgaria while tensions escalate
Key Takeaways:
- Due to a significant expulsion that has heightened relations between the historically close nations, two Russian planes were due to depart Bulgaria on Sunday carrying numerous Russian diplomats and their families.
According to a Russian official, two Russian planes were scheduled to leave Bulgaria on Sunday carrying many Russian diplomats and their families amid a major expulsion that has raised tensions between the historically friendly countries.
High-ranking Russian diplomat Filip Voskresenski told reporters at the airport in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, that he was one of 70 members of the Russian diplomatic service who had been designated "persona non grata" and given until Monday to leave the country.
Acting Prime Minister Kiril Petkov, who took a firm position against Russia after it invaded Ukraine on February 24, announced the decision to expel Bulgaria. Petkov, whose government was overthrown by a no-confidence vote on June 22, claimed Moscow employed "hybrid war" strategies.
After the expulsion, according to Petkov, 43 of Russia's personnel will remain on the payroll, whereas Bulgaria only has 12 diplomats stationed in Moscow.
"Anyone who works against Bulgaria's interests will be asked to return to their country of origin," he warned.
Eleonora Mitrofanova, the Russian ambassador, gave Bulgaria until Friday to change its mind or face full diplomatic severance from Moscow.
She stated in a statement: "I want to promptly raise the matter of the closing of the Russian Embassy in Bulgaria, which will surely lead to the closure of the Bulgarian diplomatic mission in Moscow.
The expulsion, which has seriously strained diplomatic ties, represents the largest-ever expulsion of Russian diplomats by Bulgaria, a member of the European Union and also NATO. Since Moscow started its conflict with Ukraine more than four months ago, Bulgaria has firmly endorsed the sanctions charged by the West on Moscow.
In response to Russia's "unjustified threat," the European Union, of which Bulgaria has been a member since 2007, declared that it "stands in full support as well as solidarity with Bulgaria."
After Bulgarian officials rejected a Moscow demand to pay their gas bills in rubles, Russia turned off gas supplies to Bulgaria in late April. Early in March, Bulgaria's defense minister was also fired for using the Kremlin-preferred term "special military operation" to describe Russia's conflict.