Bulgaria did not accept the ultimatum of the Russian ambassador Mitrofanova

Foreign Minister Teodora Genchovska had a meeting with Russian Ambassador Elenora Mitrofanova on July 1. Genchovska has asked the Russian side to withdraw its note verbale, with which an ultimatum was given within 24 hours for the cabinet to reverse the decision to expel the Russian diplomats. The Russian ambassador said that talks were beginning with Russia to close the mission.

Shortly after 12.30 p.m., the Russian ambassador's car left the Foreign Ministry building.

Later, they reported that shortly before the ultimatum given by the Russian ambassador expired, a meeting was held at the request of Ambassador Eleonora Mitrofanova. Minister Genchovska briefed her on the Bulgarian position and, in accordance with instructions from the Prime Minister's Chief of Staff, asked the Russian side to withdraw its note verbale of yesterday, June 30.

Eleonora Mitrofanova reacted on the embassy's Facebook page, where she said the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry had ignored her demands. For this, she began talks with Moscow about the closure of the embassy in Sofia, which, as noted in the message, will inevitably lead to the closure of the Bulgarian diplomatic mission in Moscow.

Mitrofanova added that the responsibility for the further severe consequences of this step lies entirely with the government of Kiril Petkov.

The reaction of the outgoing prime minister was not delayed.

Kiril Petkov said that no diplomat should allow himself to give ultimatums to Bulgaria and called on Ambassador Mitrofanova to stop appearing in the media. Petkov recalled that 43 employees of the embassy remain in Bulgaria, but even this number, in his words, is too many. The Prime Minister gave the example of the Bulgarian embassy in Moscow, where 12 people work.

No country should think is that some diplomat can set conditions for an independent free Bulgaria from today for tomorrow. There is no way it can happen. We stand by our position, my request is to the Russian government that they withdraw this note and that these types of threats be corrected and that a note be made to them that they have no right to put the relationship between our two countries on the line.

To the warning that closing the Russian embassy could have grave consequences, Petkov responded saying:

There is no danger whatsoever. Ms Mitrofanova is just trying to play on people's fears. I think the Russian Foreign Ministry will tell her to tone it down because it is not productive.

On BNT’s morning programme, outgoing military minister Dragomir Zakov said the expulsion of Russian diplomats was logical, and one of the reasons was a lack of respect. According to Zakov, a solution should be found for the Russian state to be represented in Bulgaria.

Whatever we do here, at the end of the day, Moscow,will have to decide how they want their country to be represented in Bulgaria. The key in this situation is that we have a Russian representative here who shows respect so that we can sit down and talk about what our diplomatic relations should be, at what level and how this reciprocity and mutual respect should be.

The reaction from Moscow came in the late afternoon. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told RIA Novosti that the question of whether to close the Russian embassy in Bulgaria would be considered by the Russian Foreign Ministry and, if necessary, reported to the president.