Moscow’s ambassador to Bulgaria has threatened to sever diplomatic relations with Sofia by closing its embassy amid an escalating row over the expulsion of dozens of Russian diplomats on espionage issues.
Bulgaria, a Nato and EU member which has previously had nearer ties with Moscow than most EU allies, this week stated it will expel 70 Russian diplomats — the biggest quantity despatched again from any European nation for the reason that invasion of Ukraine.
Sofia has since February despatched dwelling about two-thirds of the prewar Russian diplomatic contingent, as the federal government of outgoing premier Kiril Petkov takes a tough line on Moscow in response to the Ukraine conflict.
These newest expulsions provoked a livid response from Eleonora Mitrofanova, Russia’s ambassador to Bulgaria, who known as on the federal government to reverse its resolution.
When a Friday deadline went unheeded she threatened to shut the embassy altogether — a transfer she stated would inevitably be reciprocated by closing the Bulgarian embassy in Moscow.
Petkov requested Mitrofanova to rethink, including that regardless of the expulsions Russia would have greater than thrice as many diplomats in Sofia than the dozen Bulgarian employees on the Moscow embassy.
“Our diplomatic relations should continue,” Petkov instructed reporters on Friday. “We have history . . . but no country should think that some diplomat could give ultimatums to independent and free Bulgaria.”
Petkov, whose administration supported European sanctions and took part closely in army and humanitarian assist for Ukraine, was pressured to resign in a no-confidence vote final month, a scenario that consultants stated could expose Sofia to elevated Russian affect.
Nato and the EU rushed to Sofia’s defence. “Bulgaria’s . . . is a sovereign decision which must be respected,” the alliance stated. “Nato allies strongly condemn Russia’s longstanding pattern of coercive behaviour, attempts to interfere in our democratic processes and institutions and to target the security of our citizens. We stand in solidarity with our ally Bulgaria.”
The European External Action Service, the EU’s diplomatic arm, stated it regretted “the unjustified threat of the Russian Federation to sever diplomatic ties with Bulgaria in response to Bulgaria’s decision, fully in line with international law, to expel 70 Russian Embassy staff who were acting in violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations,” diplomatic language for espionage.
“Such a disproportionate step by Russia would only serve to further isolate it internationally,” the EEAS added.
Bulgaria has ironed out variations with neighbouring North Macedonia in latest weeks, lifting a veto over Skopje’s EU membership talks as Brussels urged an elevated effort to proceed enlargement within the Western Balkans and forestall rising Russian affect within the area.
The stand-off will increase tensions between Russia and western alliances within the conflict’s fifth month as fears of a “war of exhaustion” escalate.
