RFE
25 Jan 2020, 00:47 GMT+10
Bulgaria is expelling two unnamed Russian diplomats accused of involvement in spying in the Balkan country.
The Bulgarian Foreign Ministry says it summoned the Russian ambassador to Sofia on January 24 and handed him a note declaring the two diplomats -- a consular first secretary and an official at Russia's trade representation -- personae non gratae.
The Russian Embassy says the two men will leave Bulgaria but insists that "no evidence confirming their activities incompatible with their status were presented.'
'Russia reserves the right to take tit-for-tat measures,' it says in a statement.
Bulgaria, a loyal Moscow ally during communist times, became a member of NATO in 2004 and joined the European Union in 2007.
Earlier in the day, the Prosecutor-General's Office said that both men collected 'state secrets in order to transfer it to a foreign state or organization.'
One of the two diplomats collected information on Bulgaria's election process, while the other was spying on the EU member state's energy sector and energy-security measures, the office said in a statement.
The statement said a pretrial investigation of the two had begun, adding that they could not be charged due to diplomatic immunity.
In a separate case on January 23, Bulgarian prosecutors announced charges in absentia against three Russians for the attempted murder of a weapons manufacturer, his son, and the production manager of the company.
The Sofia city prosecutor's office said the three unidentified suspects intentionally attempted to poison the victims 'by intoxication with an unidentified phosphorus-organic substance.'
Prosecutors said the crimes were committed between April 28, 2015, and May 4, 2015, and targeted Emilian Gebrev, owner of EMCO Ltd., his son, Hristo Gebrev, and manager Valentin Takhchiev. All three survived the attacks.
With reporting by Reuters, Interfax, and TASS
Copyright (c) 2018. RFE/RL, Inc. Republished with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave NW, Ste 400, Washington DC 20036
Get a daily dose of San Jose Sun news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to San Jose Sun.
More Information(Photo credit: Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images) Veteran wide receiver Chase Claypool, who hasn't played in the NFL since 2023, is confident...
(Photo credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images) Ramon Laureano and Jacob Stallings delivered run-scoring doubles in the 10th inning to help...
(Photo credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images) Bobby Jenks, a member of the 2005 Chicago White Sox World Series championship team, died...
(Photo credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images) Pete Alonso had two home runs and five RBIs to help the New York Mets extend their winning...
(Photo credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images) Rookie Agustin Ramirez grounded a two-out, two-strike, two-run, tie-breaking single in the...
(Photo credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images) Ryne Nelson retired the first 16 batters he faced, Randal Grichuk homered and the host...
FRANKLIN, Tennessee: Hundreds of thousands of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles are being recalled across the United States due to a potential...
REDMOND, Washington: Microsoft is the latest tech giant to announce significant job cuts, as the financial strain of building next-generation...
LONDON UK - U.S. stock markets were closed on Friday for Independence Day. Global Forex Markets Wrap Up Friday with Greeback Comeback...
SANTA CLARA, California: Nvidia came within a whisker of making financial history on July 3, briefly surpassing Apple's all-time market...
SACRAMENTO, California: California's multibillion-dollar farms are facing a growing crisis—not from drought or pests, but from a sudden...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: President Donald Trump says the United States could soon reach a trade deal with India. He believes this deal would...