The Bulgarian Foreign Ministry has demanded the deportation of 70 Russian diplomats. 

"The Foreign Ministry has now ordered Russia to reduce its diplomatic staff in Bulgaria to the same level as the Bulgarian diplomatic missions in Russia. This includes up to 23 people diplomatic staff and 25 people administrative and technical staff ", said this ministry in a statement. 

Meanwhile, outgoing Bulgarian Prime Minister Kirill Petkov has stated that diplomats ordered to leave have worked against Bulgaria's interests. 

"Our security services have identified them as people who are mainly connected to the Russian services and who have worked against the interests of our country. 

I would like to congratulate the Bulgarian services and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for their work. I want to say to all foreign countries, not just Russia, that anyone who works against the interests of Bulgaria will face the work of our services. 

Those deported were all employees of the Russian embassy and their diplomatic role was mere cover-up. They had carried out uncharacteristic activities for their official positions," Petkov said. 

70 Russian diplomats were instructed to leave at midnight on July 3, 2022.