Bulgarian Prime Minister Petkov's announcement of the expulsion of 70 Russian diplomats declared persona non grata has thrown a spanner in the works.

The Bulgarian government decided to expel 70 Russian diplomats at once. All of them, according to Western tradition, have been accused of espionage. Petkov said that all diplomats and technicians of the Russian embassy were "convicted" of espionage. The list of "Russian spies" also includes Russian Minister-Counsellor Philip Voskresensky, the consuls general in Varna and Ruse, and the director of the cultural and information center.

The Bulgarian services have identified them as people who were largely linked to the Russian special services and acted against the interests of our country (...) Anyone who works against the interests of Bulgaria will be expelled

- said Petkov, adding that this was not aggression against the Russian people.

Since there is no air connection with Russia, the 70 diplomats declared persona non grata will be sent on a flight on Sunday, July 3.

Earlier this morning, the Bulgarian National Assembly voted for a vote of no confidence in the country's government, headed by Petkov, which led to the dissolution of the Cabinet. The Bulgarian Prime Minister himself blamed the Bulgarian opposition for his resignation, as well as the Russian ambassador to Bulgaria, Eleonora Mitrofanova.

According to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it is to be expected that Bulgaria will soon meet the plane with Bulgarian diplomats.