The Bulgarian Telegraph Agency, citing a video message from Acting Prime Minister Kirill Petkov, said that Petkov “did not change the decision to expel 70 Russian diplomats. We have reached a historic crossroads where we can either continue to change for a prosperous country, or risk falling back into backroom deals, puppet rule and foreign interests.

“We will not allow Bulgaria to go down the wrong path and allow officials to embezzle state funds, prosecutors to do nothing, and foreign diplomats to give us ultimatums before twelve in the afternoon, because we are not afraid,” he said.

And Petkov announced this week the expulsion of 70 Russian diplomats, saying they work for the security services, using their diplomatic activities as a front. In response, the Russian ambassador sent a memorandum to the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry demanding that the decision be canceled by 12:00 Moscow time today.