The Bulgarian government has decided to temporarily close the Bulgarian consulate in Ekaterinburg, Russia.

This was reported by the Bulgarian news agency BTA.

"Given the limitation of a normal and reasonable amount of Russian diplomatic presence in Bulgaria and the understanding that bilateral relations should be based on reciprocity, Bulgaria is temporarily closing its consulate in the city of Yekaterinburg, Russian Federation," the report said.

The government expects reciprocal actions from the Russian side regarding its consulate general in Ruse.

Diplomatic tensions between Bulgaria and Russia escalated after the government in Sofia decided to expel 70 employees of the Russian diplomatic mission. Russian diplomats and officials flew to Moscow in early July.

After that, Russian ambassador to Sofia Eleonora Mitrofanova gave Bulgarian authorities an ultimatum to revoke their decision; otherwise, she threatened, Russia would close its embassy in Bulgaria.

Prime Minister Kirill Petkov rejected Mitrofanova's request, stating that "we will not allow foreign diplomats to issue ultimatums. Mitrofanova said she would ask Moscow authorities to close the embassy in Bulgaria.