(Reuters) – Russia’s foreign ministry summoned Bulgaria’s ambassador, Atanas Krastin, on Monday to protest over Sofia’s expulsion of a Russian Orthodox cleric last week, the ministry said in a statement.
Bulgaria expelled one Russian and two Belarusian clerics for carrying out what it described as activities directed against the country’s national security and interests.
Bulgaria is a member of NATO and the European Union. Historically warm relations with Russia have come under strain in recent years, especially since Moscow sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine.
(Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Gareth Jones)