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Mitrofanova commented on the expulsion of 70 Russian diplomats – Politics – The World – NOVA News

Russia’s ambassador to Sofia, Eleonora Mitrofanova, described the Bulgarian government’s decision to expel 70 employees of the Russian embassy as an “unprecedented and absolutely hostile move”, TASS reported.

In a statement to Rossiya-24 television, she said that the US and Great Britain were in command of Bulgaria and they were responsible for the expulsion. Asked which forces are behind the decision of the government in Sofia, Mitrofanova answered: “Absolutely certainly the Americans. There is nothing to talk about in this case. Here, the British and the Americans are completely in command of this country, unfortunately.” She noted that the people of Bulgaria “remember history and take care of monuments”.

Mitrofanova also said that the Russian embassy in Sofia will organize the recruitment of new employees to replace those expelled, specifying that 23 diplomats and 25 technical assistants will be appointed. In her words, for a certain period of time “it will be difficult to work, especially in the consulates”.

​Later, an emergency briefing by Mitrofanova was uploaded on the Russian Embassy’s Facebook page.

“Yesterday, June 28, at 5 p.m. I was called to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria, where I was handed three verbal notes. One requires the number of diplomatic staff to be reduced to 23 people and the technical staff to 25 people. This note also states that, in connection with this, Bulgaria is closing its Consulate General in Yekaterinburg, and the Russian Federation is also expected to close its Consulate General in Ruse,” she specified.

Mitrofanova points out that the second note contains a list of 34 diplomats and technical staff who work here in Bulgaria and who have been declared “persona non grata”. “In the third note, another 36 people are declared non grata.” These are my cook, drivers, security of the Embassy, ​​accountants, all technical services of the Embassy”, adds the ambassador.

“A lot can be said about the fact that all these actions do not correspond at all to the letter and spirit of the Vienna Convention. As an experienced diplomat, I want to assure you that they do not correspond in any way. In order for a person to be declared persona non grata, evidence of illegal activity must be provided. Or if a diplomat is involved in some criminal history, and the criminal case is initiated against him, precisely his diplomatic status protects him in similar situations in a foreign country. In that case, he is declared “persona non grata,” she says.

“Simply declaring a persona non grata as a list is unprecedented and something new in diplomatic practice. Of course, this is not entirely new, because this is how it was done, as far as I know, in Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Now there is a “game without rules”. By acting in such a way, one should not invoke the Vienna Convention, which does not provide for such actions. Of course, this is at least an unprecedented hostile step, which, unfortunately, damages the long-standing diplomatic relations, the long-standing friendship between our countries. I specifically use the word “countries” because I know how the Bulgarian people relate to Russia, I know about the deep roots that connect us, which, no matter how hard you try, cannot be destroyed”, explains Mitrofanova.

“I would like to remind you even of the fact that during the Great Patriotic War (or the Second World War) the Embassy of the Soviet Union worked at full capacity, here in Bulgaria, as well as the Embassy of Bulgaria in the Soviet Union worked at full capacity. No one has expelled chefs and no one has expelled plenipotentiary ministers”, she is categorical.

“Furthermore, I want to note that the people declared as “persona non grata” are Balkanists who know Bulgaria, speak the Bulgarian language perfectly, such as, for example, the Minister Plenipotentiary of the Embassy Filipp Voskresensky and the Consul General in Varna Vladimir Klimanov ( many people living in Varna and beyond know him very well), who has devoted more than 30 years to Bulgaria in his diplomatic service. Therefore, it is very unfortunate that people of such a high class, who treat Bulgaria with such warmth, who tried and continue to try to do everything best to develop our bilateral relations, have been expelled”, the ambassador notes.

Mitrofanova points out that the government of the Russian Federation reserves the right for a reciprocal, possibly asymmetrical, response to such “extremely hostile actions”. “It is very unfortunate that the government of Bulgaria is trying in such a strong way to quarrel with us and the Bulgarian people. I don’t think it will succeed,” she concludes.

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