Russia, in response to the expulsion of its diplomats from Bulgaria, declared two employees of the Bulgarian Embassy in Moscow personae non gratae,
On April 20, Bulgarian Ambassador Atanas Krastin was invited to the Russian Foreign Ministry, where he was handed a note from the ministry. According to the note, the First Secretary, Head of Consular Section of the Bulgarian Embassy Nikolay Panayotov, and the First Secretary, Head of Trade and Commercial Section of the Bulgarian Embassy Chavdar Hristozov were declared personae non gratae.
The two embassy staffers are ordered to leave the territory of the Russian Federation within 72 hours.