OREANDA-NEWS. Several civil servants suspected of spying for Russia have been detained in Bulgaria, local media reported on Friday, March 19. According to their information, searches and detentions took place on March 18 in Sofia and Pernik. One of the suspects was caught on the Trakia highway leading from Sofia to Plovdiv. To do this, the police arranged a check of the documents of all those leaving the capital of the country.

According to preliminary data, there are no Russians among the detainees. The Bulgarian media write, that there are group of officials who had access to classified information. The exact number of detainees and other details of the special operation are still unknown. The Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Prosecutor's Office of Bulgaria did not confirm, but did not deny the data on the arrests.

Since October 2019, the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry has expelled six Russian diplomats from the country (the last one in December 2020), all on suspicion of espionage. Russia responded with mirror measures.

Earlier it was reported, that the Bulgarian authorities are introducing a ten-days quarantine on the territory of the country. As it was said by the head of the Ministry of Health of the country Kostadin Angelov, catering establishments, gaming halls and casinos, shopping centers will stop it's work. Pharmacies, banks, and grocery stores will be open. In addition, swimming pools, fitness centers, and galleries will be closed for ten days.

Earlier it was reported, that the tourist season in Bulgaria is planned to start on May.