PM Petkov urges ambassador Mitrofanova to withdraw note verbale: Russian Embassy can keep 43 of its employees in Bulgaria

The Council of Ministers circulated a position of the outgoing Prime Minister Kiril Petkov on a note sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by the Russian ambassador Eleonora Mitrofanova, requesting the withdrawal of the decision to expel 70 Russian diplomats by 12.00 on 1 July 2022.

The Foreign Ministry has confirmed the note from Russian Ambassador Mitrofanova

Petkov insists the note should be withdrawn and calls for dialogue between the two countries:

"The relations between Bulgaria and the Russian Federation are long-standing, multi-layered and of great importance for the fate of our country in historical terms. We respect the Russian people and value our cultural, historical, social and trade-economic ties. Because of this, although the Bulgarian presence in our embassy in Russia numbers only 12 people, the Russian embassy in Bulgaria will be able to retain 43 of its staff, according to the decision taken by the Bulgarian Government yesterday.

We believe in the need for dialogue, for which diplomatic channels are key. We are confident that Bulgarian-Russian relations can continue to develop in areas of mutual interest, respecting the values that are important to each of our countries. For this reason, we ask the Embassy of the Russian Federation to withdraw the note submitted today.

For the sake of the past and the future, we should be able to take steps forward with mutual respect for the national interests, security and sovereignty of both countries."

Russian Ambassador to Bulgaria Eleonora Mitrofanova told BNT that Moscow was considering the most drastic measure - severing diplomatic relations with Sofia. On Tuesday, Prime Minister Petkov announced the decision in question, saying that these were people "working against our country."