Russia says it will respond in kind to Bulgaria after diplomatic expulsions

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attends a meeting with Venezuelan Foreign Minister Carlos Faria in Moscow, Russia July 4, 2022. REUTERS/Evgenia Novozhenina/Pool

(Reuters) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Monday that Moscow would respond in kind to Bulgaria's expulsion of 70 Russian diplomats.

Russia's ambassador to Bulgaria, an EU and NATO member state and once a close ally of Russia, said last week she would ask Moscow to close its embassy in Sofia over the expulsions.