Moscow, Dec 18 (Prensa Latina) Bulgaria, with unfounded espionage allegations, expeled diplomats from our country and thus has increased the hysteria of phobia against Russians in Western countries, deputy Leonid Slutsky denounced on Friday.

 

The President of International Affairs of the Duma (lower house) recalled this was not the first time that Bulgaria declared Russian diplomats personas non grata and accuses them of espionage, and claimed that these steps will be duly responded.

This time, the allegations are related to the alleged interest in those expelled to know the number of NATO staff involved in military maneuvers, the Member of Parliament highlighted.

Undoubtedly, the interest is to keep the myth of the Russian attack and threat alive, stressed Slutsky, who claimed that the media campaign on spies comes with the expulsion of diplomats from several European nations.

In addition, this is intended to discredit Russia, said the deputy, who was quoted by local television.

From Sofia, the Bulgarian government declared the military attachés of the Air Force and the Navy at the Russian Embassy in that capital as personas non grata.

The unjustified expulsion of representatives of the Ministry of Defense in Bulgaria does not contribute at all to the unfolding of talks between both countries in the military field and does not help to reinforce stability in the Black Sea, according to a press release of the Russian Embassy.