Bulgaria expells another 10 Russian diplomats, give 72 hrs to leave country

Sofia, Bulgaria: Government of Bulgaria has announced to expel ten (10), Russian diplomats, claiming all of them were engaged in activities that go the other way of their position. Information has been shared by the European country’s Foreign Ministry on Friday, March 18, 2022, adding that they have granted 72 hours to diplomats to leave Bulgaria as soon as possible. 

Although, the names of these diplomats have not been revealed by the ministry. Earlier, two diplomats have also been removed from their positions by the Prime Minister of Bulgaria – Kiril Petkov. 

Soon after the European country made the decision of expulsions, Latvia and Estonia also made the same announcement of expelling Russian diplomats. 

Foreign Minister of Latvia – Edgars Rinkevics, via Twitter, handle, asserted, “These three Russian diplomats have been expelled amid their connection with activities that are contrary to their diplomatic status and taking into account ongoing Russian aggression in Ukraine, adding, have directly and actively undermined Estonia’s security and spread propaganda justifying the actions of Russian military”.  

He then added that the decision had been taken in coordination with the governments of Lithuania and Estonia. 

Another tweet of Rinkevics’ cites, “8 years ago #Russia illegally annexed #Crimea and #Sevastopol, #Latvia has never recognized this violation of the international law, never will #CrimeaisUkraine #SevastopolisUkraine #StandWithUkraine“. 

Meanwhile, government authorities of Lithuania told the media that they had asked four (4) Russian diplomats to leave the country, saying that Russia has made the life of Ukrainian people miserable and they do not want Russian footprints on their ground. 

The Foreign Minister of Lithuania stated, “Russia’s military attacks on civilians, civilian objects, hospitals, schools, maternity wards, and cultural objects are war crimes and crimes against humanity. Russian special services are actively engaged in organizing these crimes against the peaceful population of Ukraine, so we do not want the representatives of these structures to walk on our land and pose a threat to Lithuania’s national security”.