SOFIA, September 14 (Itar-Tass) — Over the past few hours some 150 Russian citizens, whose flights were delayed last Friday and Saturday, have left Bulgaria. In Bulgarian resort cities at the moment there remain about 130 Russians from St. Petersburg, General Consulate in Varna told Itar-Tass.
"About 150 people have left the country over the past few hours. There has been a confirmation the Russian tourists are traveling back home at their own expense. Their extra costs, according to the Alma Tour travel agency, will be reimbursed by insurance companies, with whom it has effective agreements," said Russia’s deputy consul in Varna, Maxim Alyoshin.
As it has become known, among the Russians who were unable to fly home on Friday and Saturday there are owners of properties in Bulgaria, so they returned to their homes and are waiting for departure.
"At the moment, about 130 Russians have remained at Bulgarian resorts: 70 people are in Golden Sands and Balchik near Varna, 48 Russians are at the resort of Sunny Beach, and nine people are staying at the hotel Bulgaria in Burgas," the vice-consul said.
The Bulgarian Foreign Minister has sent a formal letter to the border police to "automatically prolong the visas of the tourists in question.”
“No sanctions will be applied to them," Bulgarian Foreign Ministry spokesman Vesel Chernev said.