Russian Diplomats Leave Bulgaria Amid Soaring Tensions

 

CNBC/AP: Russian diplomats to depart Bulgaria amid soaring tensions 

* Filip Voskresenski told journalists he was among the 70 Russian diplomatic staff declared “persona non grata” and ordered to leave the country before Monday. 

* Bulgaria’s expulsion decision was announced by acting Prime Minister Kiril Petkov, who took a strong stance against Russia after it invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24. 

 * On Friday, Russian Ambassador Eleonora Mitrofanova issued Bulgaria an ultimatum to reverse its decision and threatened that Moscow would fully sever diplomatic ties. 

Two Russian airplanes were set to depart Bulgaria on Sunday with scores of Russian diplomatic staff and their families amid a mass expulsion that has sent tensions soaring between the historically close nations, a Russian diplomat said. 

Filip Voskresenski, a high-ranking Russian diplomat, told journalists at the airport in Bulgaria’s capital Sofia he was among the 70 Russian diplomatic staff declared “persona non grata” last week and ordered to leave the country before Monday.

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WNU Editor: The next step will be the Kremlin telling Bulgaria that its diplomatic staff are now “persona non grata” in Russia.

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

Bulgaria Says It Has Broken A Major Russian Spy Ring

Spokeswomen Siika Mileva (center) and Prosecutor-General Ivan Geshev (right) 

RFE: Bulgaria Says It Has Broken Up Spy Ring Suspected Of Working For Russia 

SOFIA -- Bulgaria says it has detained and charged six people suspected of passing classified information to Russia. 

A spokeswoman for the Prosecutor-General's Office, Siika Mileva, said on March 19 that the suspects were part of an espionage group led by "a former senior member of the Defense Minister's Military Intelligence Service.” 

Russia's embassy in Sofia responded by saying the move was a consequence of "incessant attempts to drive a wedge in the Russian-Bulgarian dialogue and once again demonize our country." 

It did not say who was responsible for the alleged anti-Russian efforts. 

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 More News On Bulgaria Saying It Has Broken A Major Russian Spy Ring

Bulgaria's PM warns Russia to stop spying after six arrested with alleged links to Moscow -- ABC News (Australia) 

Bulgaria smashes ‘Russian spy ring’ that threatened EU and Nato secrets -- Irish Times 

Bulgaria charges six people over alleged Russian spy ring -- Reuters 

Bulgaria: Six arrested over 'Russian spy network' -- DW 

Bulgaria arrests group led by former Military Intelligence officer for spying for Russia -- Sofia Globe

Bulgarian PM tells Russia to stop spying after intelligence ring charges -- Reuters

Bulgaria Blocks All Russian Flights To Syria

Deutsche Welle: Bulgaria blocks Russian flights en route to Syria

Military flights traveling from Moscow to Syria have been refused passage over EU member Bulgaria. Sofia has expressed doubts over the cargo, amid fears that Russia is boosting military support for the Assad regime.

Bulgaria said on Tuesday it was denying Russia's request to fly its planes to Syria over its territory.

"The Bulgarian Foreign Ministry has refused flights over Bulgaria of Russian military transport planes en route to Syria," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Betina Zhoteva told the AFP news agency.
She said that her government had information which had spurred doubts about the cargo on the planes.

More News On Bulgaria Blocking All Russian Flights To Syria

Bulgaria refusing airspace access to Russian aid flights to Syria -- Reuters
Bulgaria Denies Russian Planes Permission to Pass to Syria -- Bloomberg
Bulgaria bars Syria-bound Russian planes as NATO fears grow -- AFP
Bulgaria refuses to allow Russia military aircraft to pass through its airspace to Syria -- Sophia Globe
Bulgaria Denies Russia Use of Airspace to Syria, Citing 'Cargo' Concerns -- Newsweek
Russian MPs Slam Bulgaria for Overfly Ban on Syria-Bound Cargo Planes -- Novinite
Russia Fumes at Bulgaria for Barring Syria-Bound Flights -- AP
Kremlin Awaits Bulgaria's Explanation on Airspace Closure -- Sputnik