NATO is closely monitoring the progress of the investigation into suspected espionage for the Russian Federation in Bulgaria. This was announced at a briefing on Monday, March 22nd, by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
“We will also discuss our relations with Russia at the meeting of the foreign ministers, which will start tomorrow,” he said.
Earlier on March 22, the District Military Court of Bulgaria left under arrest five of the six suspects of espionage for Russia, whose detention was reported on March 19 by the Bulgarian prosecutor’s office.
Moscow has promised a mirror response if Sofia takes unfriendly steps against Russian diplomats, said Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko.
On March 20, Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov announced his readiness to declare Russian diplomats undesirable persons because of the espionage case. The day before, the Bulgarian prosecutor’s office notified the arrest of six employees of the Bulgarian Defense Ministry and the country’s military intelligence on suspicion of spying for Russia. One was released.
As part of the operation to detain the suspects, the security forces checked the documents of all those leaving Sofia along the highway in the direction of Plovdiv. One of the suspects was detained on this very highway.
The Russian Embassy in Sofia stressed that they hope for a “depoliticized, impartial and objective” trial against the detainees. The ministry called on to refrain from speculation on Russia’s involvement in intelligence activities against the interests of Bulgaria.