Bulgaria expels 70 Russian diplomatic staff over espionage concerns

Bulgaria announced on Tuesday (28 June) that it had expelled 70 Russian diplomats over espionage concerns. It also set a limit on Moscow's representation to ease tensions between the two countries which were once close allies.

This expulsion was announced by the foreign ministry, outgoing prime minister and marked the largest expulsion of Russian diplomats in Sofia's recent years. It also reduced more than half the diplomatic footprint of Moscow in the Balkan country.

According to TASS, a source in Russia said that Moscow would respond to the April gas cut to Bulgaria by cutting off gas supply due to its refusal to accept a rouble payment system despite heavy dependence.

"Today, we expelled 70 Russian diplomats."

This decision does more than reduce Russia's diplomatic presence. Petkov had stated that it was 114 at April's end.

The foreign ministry of Bulgaria said that the decision to expulse so many Russian diplomat staff was made to reduce Moscow's presence to the level of its representation in Moscow. It also responded to activities it called incompatible with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

The Russians did not immediately respond to the spying accusations.

Petkov took a strong stand against Russia, a country that had close ties to Moscow during communism and was a popular destination for Russian tourists.

In February, he fired his defense minister for refusing to label Russia's "special military operation" against Ukraine as a "war."

Petkov also supported EU sanctions against Moscow. He agreed to fix Ukrainian military hardware, but did not send arms directly to Kyiv. Petkov also complained about what he previously called the excessive size of Russia’s diplomatic presence within his country.

Petkov stated that the expulsions were not an act against the Russian people. We have institutions that can respond to foreign governments trying to interfere in our internal affairs.

According to the foreign ministry, Bulgaria had decided to limit Russia's diplomatic presence to 48. They also ordered expelled Russian diplomats out of the country by Sunday midnight.

Petkov stated that a fully-loaded airplane with 70 seats will take off for Moscow on Sunday.

According to the foreign ministry, Bulgaria is also temporarily closing its diplomatic mission in Moscow's city of Ekaterinburg. Russia was expected to temporarily suspend the activities of its mission in Ruse in Bulgaria.