Bulgaria Evacuates Families of Diplomats from Russia

International firemen teams work to extinguish the forest fires near Moscow. Photo by BGNES

The wives and kids of Bulgarian diplomats in Moscow, as well as female employees, who work in the Bulgarian embassy, except for the ones who work in the consulate, will be evacuated.

The spokesperson of the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry, Vesela Cherneva, announced Sunday that the ministry is considering which would be the fastest and easiest way for the evacuation.

“We will send masks to those who will stay there. At the moment, the ministry is working with the Bulgarian ambassador in Moscow on the preparation of an action plan for the next few hours,” Cherneva said.

She has also stated that the Foreign Ministry is in a constant connection with the Bulgarian embassy in Moscow and that Bulgarians have not requested help with regards to the fires.

Cherneva has also noted that 95 top Bulgarian firemen have been sent to Russia to help putting out the forest and peat fires.

The press secretary of the diplomatic mission of Bulgaria to Russia, Vera Shatilova, has announced that there is no improvement of the situation in Moscow yet.

In her words, there is no visibility, it is hard to breathe and the temperatures remain high.

“The smog creates discomfort, watery eyes and throat burning. Some colleagues have complained about coughing and dizziness,” Shatilova said.

She has also stated that the Bulgarian ambassador is in constant connection with the Bulgarian firemen. She added they have been accommodated and are content with the conditions because Russia has provided them with food and hot water.

Shatilova has explained that the Bulgarian firefighters have been divided in two groups, 30-40 km apart. One has been sent to Noginsk, and the other – to Orekhovo-Zuyevo.

Earlier, Poland, Austria and Canada have announced they have withdrawn a large number of their diplomats in Moscow because of the think smog caused by the wildfires in Russia.

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