The Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) supports the expulsion of diplomats who engage in actions that threaten the national security and national interests of the Republic of Bulgaria. We are referring to the Russian diplomats in particular. I want our very firm and clear position to be known, MRF leader Mustafa Karadayi told an emergency news briefing in the National Assembly. The reason was that another insinuation was made against the Movement, in relation with the latest “diplomatic” controversy that ravages Bulgaria, by people of the circle of media monopolist Ivo Prokopiev.
Second, the expulsion must be carried out with respect for the national and international law, within the framework of the rules and the national legislation, Karadayi pointed out.
However, I want to add right away that the information we received in the National assembly late last night from the security services, raised some grave concerns as to whether the national law was being kept. Kiril Petkov and Assen Vassilev therefore should have been present in the plenary hall today and inform us what the factual picture and the truth are, the MRF leader emphasised. The Movement has been demanding all day that the prime minister and deputy prime minister emerge in parliament and explain to the MPs the decision that the two made - to expel 70 Russian diplomats from Bulgaria and the subsequent ultimatum from Moscow that if the expelling is not cancelled, Russia will close its embassy in Sofia. Petkov and Vassilev did not show up in the National Assembly.
Third, since Kiril Pekov and Assen Vassilev entered politics in Bulgaria, starting in May last year, a thing has been happening that is not normal. It is not acceptable for the lie to be the norm. It is not reasonable to declare perjury moral. We cannot accept that the violation of the Constitution and the law of this country is declared patriotic and a national priority, if it is done by “the right people”, like Kiril Petkov and Assen Vassilev. This is not normal, Mustafa Karadai said, expressing his outrage.
The MRF leader appealed to all responsible media and Bulgarian citizens: "Let us restore normality in politics and expose the liars in politics and let us stop lying altogether."
Kiril Petkov and Asen Vassilev should be here, in the National Assembly, to make clear how they acted, whether their actions were in observation of the law. For we are for the expulsion of diplomats who carry out activities that jeopardise the national security of Bulgaria. This is a whole procedure, Karadayi repeated. And he recalled that the EU had decided on a common policy and shared actions in relation to the Union's foreign policy. It has been like this since the beginning of Russia's aggression in Ukraine.
We learned from the media about Ambassador Eleonora Mitrofanova's ultimatum. That is exactly why we need to see what actions have been taken by the Bulgarian side. That is why we need the prime minister and his aide Assen Vassilev. We cannot tolerate an ultimatum when we are rushing out diplomats who threaten our national security. But the perjurers, the violators of the Constitution and the laws of the country, Kiril Petkov and Assen Vassilev, should have been here in the National Assembly to illuminate all the shades of this mystery, the MRF leader said.
