Russia expels Bulgarian diplomat in spy affair

MOSCOW: Russia said Thursday it was expelling a Bulgarian diplomat in a tit-for-tat move after Sofia asked a Russian diplomat to leave the country over suspicions of espionage.

The Russian foreign ministry said the Bulgarian ambassador in Moscow, Atanas Krastin, had been handed a note informing him that an employee of the mission was declared "persona non grata".

"The step is a retaliatory measure in response to a decision by the Bulgarian authorities to expel a Russian diplomat from the country in October," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

No further details were provided. In late October, Sofia expelled a Russian diplomat after he ignored a request to leave following a probe which confirmed he had been spying in the EU member country.