Political reactions to the news about the expulsion of 70 Russian diplomats

The decision to expel 70 Russian diplomats provoked controversial comments. President Rumen Radev and Vice President Iliana Iotova were not informed. Some political forces supported the decision, others strongly condemned it. The Movement for Rigths and Freedoms (MRF) refrained from commenting.

President Rumen Radev was not aware of the decision to expel the 70 Russian diplomats from Bulgaria.

"I cannot discuss this issue because I do not have the necessary information. I hope that the outgoing Prime Minister Kiril Petkov has solid and reliable information about this decision and has thought it through well, both in terms of scale and consequences," Rumen Radev said.

Vice President Iliana Iotova also announced that she had no specific information. She said that she learned the news from PM Kiril Petkov's statement to the media. She hopes that this decision will not lead to a rupture of diplomatic relations between Moscow and Sofia.
"In my opinion, it is an unprecedented decision because it was taken by a government that has already lost the confidence of the Bulgarian Parliament, that has received a vote of no confidence and that has resigned. This decision I am sure has a reason, since the Prime Minister says and this is based on information of the Bulgarian security services, to be taken with the responsibility of the next cabinet.. We have no information what made it necessary to take this decision last night," Vice President Iliana Iotova added.

Prosecutor's Office found out from the media about the expulsion of the Russian diplomats

The reactions in Parliament about the expelled diplomats ranged from complete approval to complete denial. The day started with a sharp declaration from the parliamentary rostrum by the leader of "Vazrazhdane". According to Kostadinov, the decision was mndless and taken by Kiril Petkov alone.

"If we were a state governed by the rule of law with a functioning independent Chief Prosecutor, he would have stepped into his powers today and asked for the Prime Minister to be placed under arrest. I don't know if you realise that PM Kiril Petkov is dangerous for Bulgaria. Obviously obsessed with an obsession for power, he is ready to do anything to keep himself in the post he still holds," added Kostadin Kostadinov, chair of “Vazrazhdane” parliamentary group.

Hristo Ivanov of Democratic Bulgaria (DB) disputed the claim that the decision was taken by PM Petkov alone.

"I have information that the application of the principle of proportionality regarding the composition of diplomatic missions was discussed on 18 May and what is more - it was politically supported by the DB. We have been pushing for this decision for a very long time and from this point of view it has been discussed in the coalition council, it has and enjoys our strong support. We believe that this decision is late, but right", commented Hristo Ivanov, co-chair of DB.

"We Continue Change" described the decision as correct.

"The outgoing government has all the powers of a regular government, this is a first and very important point. Furthermore, when there is evidence from the security services and the foreign ministry that it is in Bulgaria's interest to expel these individuals, it is more of a technical matter that they are expelled. There is just not that much room for political decision and manoeuvring here", said Dimitar Gotchev from "We Continue the Change".

GERB-UDF also supported it.

"If the services have done their job well, it means they should move on. Because lately there are also suspisions that in the high levels of Bulgarian power there are people who continue to serve Russian economic interests. In particular, to protect the interests of Lukoil. Today, diesel at petrolstations already costs 4 BGN, absolutely without reason, without being related to any market mechanisms", added Daniel Mitov from GERB-UDF.

Stanislav Balabanov from "There is Such a People" told on the sidelines of Parliament that Kiril Petkov had announced his intention to expel Russian diplomats when he and a group of MPs visited Ukraine.

"The problem lies in the approach of the Prime Minister, who is now former Prime Minister. The self-serving approach – this sis where the problem is. To compare the two situations, I can assure you that Kirill Petkov's decision about these diplomats is the same as with former PM Boyko Borissov's arrest - nobody knew that he would be arrested. Last night, the coalition partners did not know that he had made such a decision," said Stanislav Balabanov from "There is Such a People".

And the outgoing Prime Minister this morning chose to remain silent on the issue.