Home » News » With an ultimatum, Mitrofanova threatened to close the embassy and break diplomatic relations (updated) – World

With an ultimatum, Mitrofanova threatened to close the embassy and break diplomatic relations (updated) – World

© Velko Angelov


The Russian ambassador in Sofia has asked Bulgaria to cancel the decision to expel 70 Russian diplomatic employees from the country. In addition, Eleonora Mitrofanova added that if the authorities do not withdraw their decision and they leave the country by midnight on Sunday, she will ask Moscow to consider the complete closure of the embassy in Bulgaria. This was reported by “Reuters”, citing a source from the Bulgarian government.

The Foreign Ministry confirmed in the evening that a 24-hour ultimatum was issued to Bulgaria.

BNT reported for an even more drastic measure – that Moscow is considering severing diplomatic relations with Bulgaria. National television refers to Mitrofanova’s words about “Around the world and in our country”.

The Russian Embassy posted a statement on its Facebook page in the evening, saying:

“We expect that on July 1 the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria will withdraw the two notes containing lists of names of employees of the Russian overseas institutions in Bulgaria. Otherwise, the issue of closing the Russian Embassy in Sofia (which automatically leads to the closure of the Embassy of Bulgaria in Moscow), and the responsibility for extremely serious consequences for bilateral relations will be entirely on the Bulgarian side.”


The embassy adds: “We consider this act to be an unprecedented, defamatory and provocative act that damages the basis of Russian-Bulgarian relations. The Russian side also stated that we categorically deny these accusations.” the topic of the number of employees of the embassy and consulates of Russia in Bulgaria was raised, and that the note delivered today by Mitrofanova does not mention this issue.

The publication “Epicenter” distributed in the afternoon hours a text and a photo of a document with a seal, which appear to come from the Russian embassy, ​​but the authenticity of which “Dnevnik” cannot confirm at the moment. In it, in Russian and an “unofficial translation into Bulgarian”, a deadline for withdrawing the Bulgarian decision for the 70 employees is set until 12 o’clock on July 1. If the note was delivered today at noon, that means a 24-hour ultimatum.

Three hours later, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that at the request of the Russian side, Ambassador Mitrofanova was received, who handed over a verbal note “with which a request for withdrawal is made in an ultimatum tone by 12:00 on July 1, 2022 at the notes on the persons declared as persona non grata employees of the Russian missions abroad. The note states that, otherwise, “the matter of closing the Embassy of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Bulgaria will be immediately raised before the Russian leadership”.


The Prime Minister called on Russia to withdraw today’s note

In a statement by Prime Minister Kiril Petkov he calls for the note to be withdrawn.

In it, he explains that yesterday the government made a decision according to which Moscow keeps 43 of its employees in Sofia, although there are “only 12 people” in the Bulgarian embassy.

“The relations between Bulgaria and the Russian Federation are long-standing, multi-layered and of great importance for the fate of our country in historical terms. We respect the Russian people and value our cultural, historical, social and trade-economic ties. (…) We believe in the necessity from a dialogue for which diplomatic channels are of key importance. We are convinced that Bulgarian-Russian relations can continue to develop in the spheres of mutual interest, respecting the values ​​important to each of our countries,” the Prime Minister’s announcement reads. “Because of the past and the future, we must be able to take steps forward in mutual respect for the national interests, security and sovereignty of both countries.”

With an ultimatum, Mitrofanova threatened to close the embassy and break diplomatic relations (updated)

© The Council of Ministers

The foreign minister Teodora Genchovska refused last night – despite persistent questions from journalists – any comment on the events upon the arrival in Sofia of the Bulgarian delegation from the NATO summit in Madrid. In Spain, she also did not take any position on what was happening and with her silence left uncertainty about the role of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as the MP Toshko Yordanov to speak on her behalf. According to “Dnevnik” information from the airport, she went to the ministry

President Rumen Radev, who led the delegation with the participation of Defense Minister Dragomir Zakov, also did not comment in Sofia.

Who are the Russians declared undesirable?

In a special statement yesterday, the Russian ambassador explained that three verbal notes were handed to her at the Foreign Ministry:

  • “One requires to reduce the number of the diplomatic staff to 23 people and the technical staff to 25 people. This note also states that in connection with this, the Republic of Bulgaria is closing its Consulate General in Ekaterinburg, and the Russian Federation is also expected to close its Consulate General in Ruse.
  • The second note contains a list of 34 diplomatswho work here in Bulgaria and they are declared “persona non grata”.
  • In the third note more 36 people are declared “non grata”. This is my cook, drivers, Embassy security, accountants, all technical services of the Embassy.”

Both the Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman and Mitrofanova warned yesterday that Moscow reserves the right to retaliate, including “asymmetric” ones. The latter can mean actions in the diplomatic sphere as well as in business and at another interstate level.

In diplomacy, closing an embassy is very close to freezing or terminating diplomatic relations. This is done in the event of an immediate threat to the security of officials – for example, the outbreak of war or the storming of diplomatic facilities – or in the event of a severe deterioration in bilateral relations.

In such a situation, contacts between two countries are usually extremely difficult, and the interests of the withdrawing country are represented by the embassy of a third country. Such an intermediary is often a country with a neutral or distant status and reputation from the problems in the region – Switzerland for example.

Diplomatic relations between the Russian Empire and the Principality of Bulgaria were established on July 7, 1879. They were interrupted three times:

  • on September 22, 1915, when Bulgaria became an ally of the Central Powers in the First World War
  • between 1918 and 1934 until the Bolshevik regime gained international legitimacy
  • between September 5, 1944 and August 16, 1945, because of the war unilaterally declared by the USSR on the Kingdom of Bulgaria.

Expect details later on www.dnevnik.bg.

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