Russian Diplomats Leave Bulgaria Amid Soaring Tensions

 

CNBC/AP: Russian diplomats to depart Bulgaria amid soaring tensions 

* Filip Voskresenski told journalists he was among the 70 Russian diplomatic staff declared “persona non grata” and ordered to leave the country before Monday. 

* Bulgaria’s expulsion decision was announced by acting Prime Minister Kiril Petkov, who took a strong stance against Russia after it invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24. 

 * On Friday, Russian Ambassador Eleonora Mitrofanova issued Bulgaria an ultimatum to reverse its decision and threatened that Moscow would fully sever diplomatic ties. 

Two Russian airplanes were set to depart Bulgaria on Sunday with scores of Russian diplomatic staff and their families amid a mass expulsion that has sent tensions soaring between the historically close nations, a Russian diplomat said. 

Filip Voskresenski, a high-ranking Russian diplomat, told journalists at the airport in Bulgaria’s capital Sofia he was among the 70 Russian diplomatic staff declared “persona non grata” last week and ordered to leave the country before Monday.

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WNU Editor: The next step will be the Kremlin telling Bulgaria that its diplomatic staff are now “persona non grata” in Russia.

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