Russia Summons Bulgarian Ambassador

The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced in a statement that it summoned the Bulgarian ambassador to Moscow, Atanas Krastin, today, Monday, to protest Sofia's expulsion of a Russian Orthodox cleric last week. Bulgaria expelled the Russian cleric and two others from Belarus for their involvement in what it described as activities directed against the country's security and national interests. Bulgaria is a member of NATO and the European Union. Relations between Bulgaria and Russia have soured in recent years, especially following Moscow's deployment of tens of thousands of troops to Ukraine.