Bulgaria Expels 70 Russian Embassy Staff

A view of the Russian embassy in Sofia, Bulgaria, April 29, 2021. REUTERS/Stoyan Nenov 

RFE: Bulgaria Expels 70 Russian Embassy Staff Accused Of Working Against Sofia's Interests  

Bulgaria has ordered 70 Russian diplomatic staff out of the country, claiming that they have been working against Sofia's interests. 

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Irena Dimitrova summoned Russian Ambassador Eleonora Mitrofanova on June 28 to inform her of the expulsions, a Foreign Ministry statement said. 

The statement said the first reason for the expulsions was "reciprocity” and the second was because Bulgarian authorities have determined that the Russian officials' "activity” is incompatible with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.  

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WNU Editor: Bulgaria is in the middle of a political crisis .... Bulgaria’s Pro-Western Government Collapses Over Disputes About Budget And North Macedonia (June 22, 2022). My gut tells me that this expulsion is being done for political reasons. 

Bulgaria Expels 70 Russian Embassy Staff  

Bulgaria expels 70 Russian diplomatic staff over espionage concerns -- Reuters  

Bulgaria expels 70 Russian diplomats and spies -- Politico  

Bulgaria to Expel 70 Russian Diplomatic Staff — PM -- Moscow Times/AFP  

Bulgaria announces mass expulsion of 70 Russian diplomatic staff -- Al Jazeera