Pavela Kostova is a correspondent for RFE/RL's Bulgarian Service.
Two years after 70 Russian diplomats were kicked out of Bulgaria, a response to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, an investigation by RFE/RL's Bulgarian Service has found that an underground consulate is being run at the headquarters of the Bulgarian Socialist Party.
Pro-Kremlin candidates are confident ahead of Bulgaria's elections to the European Parliament on June 9 amid expectations across the continent of gains by far-right parties.
The first Bulgarian citizens evacuated from Gaza arrived in Sofia on November 3. A Palestinian-Bulgarian man, Ala el-Sharafi, came with his wife, Sali, and their daughter Siyka. They were welcomed by Ala's mother, also named Siyka.
Roma in Bulgaria, who often face widespread racism and discrimination, now say they are being turned away from public pools as they try to beat the scorching summer heat.
