SOFIA, September 14 (Itar-Tass) — The rest of Russian tourists, who were caught in Bulgarian resorts, will be able to leave for Russia from Varna on Wednesday evening, Russian consul general Yuri Solovyov told Itar-Tass.
“By the evening, approximately between 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. local time [from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Moscow time] the plane carrying all Russian tourists should leave for St. Petersburg,” Solovyov said.
“Now people are transported to the airport of Varna from resorts and Burgas,” the Russian consul general added.
"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.