The Consular Service of the Russian Embassy in Bulgaria и Consulate General in Varna they stopped their work. Also today and Consulate General in Ruse will stop working and will be closed for a month, said the MIA correspondent from Sofia.

Filip Voskresensky, an adviser at the Russian Embassy in Sofia, told Tass that anyone who had previously contacted the Russian consulates in Bulgaria could contact the embassy when the consulates resume their work.

The leader of the Bulgarian Socialist Party, Cornelia Ninova, wrote in a Facebook post that the decision to expel 70 Russian diplomats is an unprecedented act in Bulgarian diplomacy, which she says will have long-term consequences. Ninova stated that she is categorically against this decision.

Vladislav Panev of Democratic Bulgaria said he welcomed the decision to join the Council of Ministers ahead of a meeting of Bulgaria's ruling coalition.