Russia Declares Two Bulgarian Diplomats Personae Non Grata

Bulgarian Ambassador to Russia Atanas Krastin, who paid a visit to the Russian Foreign Ministry earlier on Tuesday, received a note about Moscow's response to the expulsion of two Russian diplomats from Sofia.

Russia, in response to the expulsion of diplomats from Bulgaria, declared two employees of the Bulgarian embassy in Moscow personae non grata, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Russia said in March it reserved the right to take retaliatory measures after Sofia kicked out the diplomats for suspected espionage. The expulsions came after prosecutors charged six people, including current and former military intelligence officers, with spying for Russia.