By Talha Ozturk
BELGRADE, Serbia (AA) - Bulgaria on Thursday deported Vassian Zmeev, the Russian Orthodox Church's Bulgarian representative, and two of his colleagues, who are also Belarusian nationals.
The Bulgarian State National Security Agency (DANS) issued a statement saying that the three individuals were carrying out activities against the national security and interests of Bulgaria.
"Data was obtained about the actions of these people regarding the implementation of various elements of the hybrid strategy of the Russian Federation aimed at deliberately influencing the socio-political processes in the Republic of Bulgaria in favor of Russian geopolitical interests," it said.
Their residence permits were canceled and they were banned from entering the country for five years.
Belarus is seen as one of Russia’s major allies, especially amid the ongoing Ukraine war, now nearly 19 months old.
Russia's ambassador to Bulgaria, Eleonora Mitrofanova, condemned the move and said the three clerics were deported by being put into a vehicle in which smugglers were transported.
"There is no precedent for such a practice. The church is separate from the state. How can the clergy threaten national security? It is impossible to understand. They literally spat in our faces," she said.
Zmeev had been representing the Russian Orthodox Church in the capital Sofia for five years. Last year, Russian Patriarch Kirill (Cyril) added North Macedonia to Zmeev's area of responsibility.
Last week, North Macedonia declared Zmeev and three Russian diplomats working at the Russian Embassy in Skopje persona non grata.