Bulgaria Bans Two Russians from EU for Five Years Over Espionage Suspicions
Bulgaria has issued a five-year entry ban on two Russian nationals accused of spying for Moscow, effectively prohibiting their entry into any EU member state during that period.
According to Bulgaria’s State Agency for National Security (DANS), the individuals were identified as 39-year-old Vladimir Gorochkin and 37-year-old Tatiana Gorochkina. Authorities revealed that the pair had been residing in Bulgaria under false identities, using the names Denis Rashkov and Diana Rashkova.
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The national security agency did not disclose when the suspects left Bulgaria or where they are currently located. However, officials confirmed that neither remains within the country.
This move underscores Bulgaria’s firm stance against Russian influence operations, particularly since the beginning of the Kremlin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. That same year, Sofia expelled 70 Russian diplomats, signaling a major shift in bilateral relations and aligning itself more closely with Western security policies.
The ban is part of a broader effort by EU countries to clamp down on suspected Russian intelligence activities across Europe, amid growing concerns about hybrid threats, espionage, and disinformation campaigns linked to Moscow.
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