Prime Minister of Bulgaria announced plans to expel Russian diplomats, Russian parliamentarians: Will take countermeasures
[Global Times reporter Liu Yupeng] Because of the "spy" dispute between Russia and Bulgaria, the Prime Minister of Bulgaria announced on the 20th that he was preparing to expel Russian diplomats.
But the Russian Embassy in the country denied this accusation and believed that it was an act of demonizing Russia.
Russian parliamentarians said that they will take corresponding countermeasures.
According to a report by the Russian "Izvestia" on the 21st, Bulgarian Prime Minister Borisov announced on the 20th through the country’s BNR radio station that due to the recent "espionage" scandal, Bulgaria is ready to again list Russian diplomats as "unwelcome people". ".
He said: "I once again call on the Russian leaders to stop espionage in Bulgaria. Under any circumstances, we will firmly defend our security and independence." On the 19th, the Bulgarian Prosecutor's Office announced the arrest of 6 senior officials from the defense and intelligence agencies, accusing them They are suspected of spying for Russia.
Bulgaria’s chief prosecutor Ivan Geshev said that this spy organization was exposed with the help of intelligence agencies in EU countries and the United States.
The intelligence collected by the arrested "spy" includes: NATO and the EU's policies on conflicts in Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Syria, and Nakah; the activities of the US Central Intelligence Agency in Bulgaria; and the contacts of the Bulgarian Ministry of Defense in the United States and the United Kingdom.
Russia categorically denies this accusation made by Bulgaria.
According to a report by RIA Novosti on the 20th, the Russian Embassy in the country stated that the report on Russia’s involvement in “intelligence activities that endanger Bulgaria’s interests” was an attempt to demonize Russia.
"Under the complex international situation, it is obvious that someone is trying to disrupt the Russian-Prussian dialogue and demonize our country again... We hope that the trial will be conducted on a non-politicized, fair and objective basis." The Committee of International Affairs of the Russian Federation Council (Upper House of Parliament) First Vice Chairman Jabarov said that if Bulgaria expels the Russian ambassador, Russia will take countermeasures.
He said: "Our so-called former allies of the Warsaw Pact... take turns to please NATO to show that they are uncompromising fighters against the Russian threat."