"Bulgaria Expels Russian Church Leader Amid Political Tensions"

Bulgarian authorities have expelled the head of the Russian Orthodox Church in the country, along with two employees, citing a "threat to national security." The Russian embassy in Bulgaria expressed outrage, accusing the Bulgarian leadership of attempting to sever ties between the two countries and their Orthodox churches. Former Prime Minister Kiril Petkov had previously emphasized the need to remove Moscow-backed agents to combat organized crime and corruption in Bulgaria.