The former Minister of European Affairs of Bulgaria, Gergana Pasi regarding Sofia's decision to expel 70 Russian diplomatic representatives and the rejected ultimatum of the Russian ambassador Eleonora Mitrofanova told Euronews Bulgaria that her country has received full support from NATO and the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and that it is in full compliance with international legislation, the Vienna Convention and Bulgaria's national interests.

As the MIA correspondent from Sofia reported, Passi believes that these 70 employees of the Russian embassy in Sofia, regardless of whether they have diplomatic or technical status, are practically military units under diplomatic cover.

"And, obviously, the decision of the prime minister and the government of Bulgaria corresponds to the national interest and the security of the state," she pointed out.

Gergana Passi said that there is no doubt that this decision is correct and there will be no bigger mistake than a step back and the Prime Minister resigning Kiril Petkov gave a very clear signal that he had no such intentions.

The deadline that the Bulgarian authorities gave to 70 Russian diplomats, including technical personnel, to leave Bulgaria because they were "involved in espionage" expires on Sunday.

Source: MIA