Balgarianovinite.com The State Agency for National Security (SANS) expelled more than 40 foreign nationals in 2025 as part of its efforts countering foreign intelligence services operating in Bulgaria, according to the agency’s annual report for 2025, published on the website of the Council of Ministers.
The report notes a case involving a Russian citizen whose activities were deemed to be against Bulgaria’s interests and national security. The individual was expelled, his right of residence in Bulgaria was revoked, and he was banned from entering the country. Similar sanctions were also imposed on another Russian citizen.
In addition, the activities of another Russian citizen were disrupted due to alleged ties to the Russian intelligence services. By order of the Chairperson of SANS, he received a five-year ba on entering and residing within the territories of the Member States of the European Union.
The report also states that SANS rejected the applications of 25 foreign nationals seeking Bulgarian citizenship. According to the agency, the decisions were based on information indicating links to foreign intelligence services or involvement in other activities considered to pose a threat to Bulgaria’s national security.
The report also notes a case involving a Bulgarian citizen who joined the Russian Armed Forces in Ukraine. According to information from SANS, the Sofia City Prosecutor’s Office has opened a preliminary investigation into the case.
The report further states that, in the context of contemporary threats, Bulgaria continues to face certain challenges in implementing physical and information security measures for some strategic facilities.
Other significant developments creating risks to strategic facilities and activities in 2025 include:
– the need to ensure the continued operation of strategic industries and maintain energy security in the context of disrupted supply chains and sanctions imposed on Lukoil, which affect the company’s assets in Bulgaria;
– the country’s continued, though not fully overcome, dependence on Russian nuclear equipment, spare parts, and technical expertise;
– difficulties in balancing the electricity system due to the increased share of renewable energy sources and the limited operation of hydroelectric and thermal power plants;
– shortcomings in the maintenance and modernization of the electricity distribution and district heating networks, resulting in frequent outages and negatively affecting the quality of service provided to consumers;
– the deteriorating financial condition of major coal mining companies and delays in initiatives to retrain workers in the sector and repurpose mining sites for “green” energy projects;
– deficiencies in certain railway and road infrastructure construction, repair, maintenance, and modernization projects, some of which have implications for both economic development and road safety;
– vulnerabilities related to access to and the quality of healthcare services, as well as attempts to misappropriate public healthcare resources;
– shortages in the pharmaceutical market caused by logistical difficulties, uneven distribution, parallel export schemes, and growing consumption, including the use of medicines without a prescription;
– delays and irregularities in the absorption of European Union grant funding intended to support the sustainable development of infrastructure, the national economy, and scientific research and development;
– the increasing frequency of natural disasters and extreme weather events as a result of climate change, negatively affecting infrastructure, living conditions, and food security.
– vulnerabilities in the agri-food supply chain, leading to market distortions, unfair competition, unauthorized imports, and the distribution of food products and plant protection substances that pose risks to human health;
– shortcomings in the implementation of the state preventive program and violations of biosecurity measures by certain entities amid a worsening animal disease situation;
– disrupted river flow capacity, including as a result of illegal extraction of inert materials, uncontrolled deforestation and construction in certain areas, as well as the poor condition of some hydraulic facilities, creating conditions that increase the risk of flooding;
– air and water pollution caused by industry and agriculture, along with vulnerabilities in monitoring, control, and prevention mechanisms;
– deficiencies in the maintenance of water sources, water transmission systems, and irrigation infrastructure amid climate change and forecasts of a persistent shortage of water resources for household, energy, agricultural, and industrial needs;
– violations related to the storage of hazardous chemical substances.
SANS warns that, in line with global trends, the intensity of cyberattacks in Bulgaria continues to show a sustained upward trend. The majority of these attacks target state institutions and municipal administrations, critical infrastructure facilities, the transport sector, financial institutions, health insurance organizations, and others.
In response to the large volume of terrorist propaganda circulating online, the agency has been conducting systematic monitoring of the digital environment. These efforts are aimed at identifying activities involving the dissemination of radical messages and assessing possible exposure to such content among Bulgarian citizens and foreign nationals residing in the country. The necessary operational measures have been taken regarding both permanent and temporary residents originating from high-risk countries, due to the ongoing migration flows through Bulgaria. Report: National Security Agency Expelled 40 Foreign Nationals in Operations Countering Foreign Intelligence in 2025 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-07-27 18:16:00 Latest news World news Country news Most important news latest news most important latest of the day Justice Petar Nizamov Feathers Petar Nizamov- Feathers Justice bg iustitia.bg iustitia iusticia usticia investigation Burgas Bulgaria news news of the last hour news of the day news of today Bulgaria news The news from Bulgaria blitz news top news most important most commented latest news Boyko Borisov news weather coronavirus news news weather facebook youtube facebook instagram news today news of the last minutes news today today news news bg news leading news hot news bg news site for news all news news bg news of the last hour latest latest news bg news of today news today news today news of the last hour latest news today news bg news news 24 hours news vesti bg novini news world bird bg bivol bg bivol trud bg novini latest news today novinite bg news hello bulgaria political party coat of arms delyan peevski scandalous Bulgarian National Television Free Europe Television scandal exclusive live tv live right now tv tv online tv program bg live now tv news online tv online live court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas district court Burgas appellate court Burgas prosecutor Burgas prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev Prosecutor Geshev Tsatsarov Ministry of Internal Affairs Burgas ODMR Burgas ODPR Burgas police Burgas district police Burgas prosecutor Tsatsarov SGS cases Varna court chairman of the SGS court decisions on civil cases decisions on cases Plovdiv court decision of the court decisions cases Varna court criminal cases district district court decisions work in the court SGS chairman of the SGS judges Sofia court post judges Plovdiv court Plovdiv judges Plovdiv Supreme Court Inspectorate Supreme Court Supreme Judicial Council lawyer lawyer criminal cases lawyer civil cases lawyer marriage cases lawyer administrative criminal law criminal process civil law civil process administrative law constitutional law