Moscow Declares Bulgarian Embassy Staffer Persona Non Grata in Response to Similar Move by Sofia

Sputnik News

09:45 GMT 26.05.2021

Bulgarian prosecutors previously alleged that at least six Russians had been behind four explosions at Bulgarian arms depots between 2011 and 2020.

The Russian Foreign Ministry has declared a staffer of the Bulgarian Embassy persona non grata, responding to Sofia's expulsion of a Russian diplomat last month in a move Moscow condemned as unjustified.

The ministry announced in a statement that it had notified Bulgarian Ambassador Atanas Krastin of the ministry's decision.

Bulgaria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in late April it had declared a Russian diplomat persona non grata. Moscow vowed to retaliate in kind.

Bulgarian media outlets previously reported that six Russian citizens were suspected of being involved in a series of blasts at factories and arms depots - three of whom were charged with the attempted murder of Bulgarian businessman Emilian Gebrev. Bulgarian prosecutors are now looking into four alleged explosions at arms depots between 2011 and 2020.

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