Moscow-Sana
Russia reiterated its intention to respond to Bulgaria's expulsion of a number of its diplomats.
"Moscow will respond to Sofia's expulsion of 70 Russian diplomats," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was quoted by the RIA Novosti news agency as saying during a press conference in Moscow today.
Lavrov attributed the decision to expel Russian diplomats to Washington's pressure on Sofia, saying, "This is not an independent decision of the acting Bulgarian prime minister, who is clearly and unequivocally inclined to pro-Americanism and is ready to fulfill any desires of his master."
Lavrov considered that the “desires of the master” are aimed at killing the historical memory of the Bulgarians and destroying the foundations of relations with Russia that were established in the joint struggle for independence and in many other situations, including modern history.
Lavrov pointed out that in the current circumstances the Russian embassy in Bulgaria cannot continue to function normally, reiterating that Moscow will respond in kind to the Bulgarian decision.
In the same context, the Russian Embassy in Bulgaria reported the return of Russian diplomats who were declared persona non grata to Moscow on two planes.
And the former Bulgarian Prime Minister Kirill Petkov announced at the end of last June the expulsion of 70 Russian diplomats who were allegedly working for the intelligence service and used diplomatic work as a cover for their intelligence activities.
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