Bulgaria passes protest note to North Macedonia’s ambassador over shooting at Bulgarian club in Ohrid

Shortly before 11.30 a.m. on November 24, the Ambassador of the Republic of North Macedonia Agneza Rusi-Popovska entered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Sofia to be handed a protest note over the shooting at the King Boris III club in Ohrid. At around 12.30 p.m., she left the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

Unidentified person shot at the Bulgarian club in Ohrid.

Following the serious incident, Bulgarian diplomats immediately informed the European Commission leadership.

President Rumen Radev commented that the Republic of North Macedonia’s path to the EU passes through the recognition and respect of the rights of the Macedonian Bulgarians.

Before the start of today's meeting of the Joint Commission on Historical and Educaional Issues, which is meeting in Skopje, the co-chairman from the Bulgarian side - prof. Angel Dimitrov described the incident as a "brutal act of hatred".

"This incident will not affect the work of the commission," he assured, quoted by “Sloboden Pechat”.

Here is the full position of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs:

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemns the serious crime perpetrated on the 23rd of November 2022 in Ohrid, Republic of North Macedonia, when a firearm was utilized against the Cultural club “Tsar Boris III”, an organization of citizens of North Macedonia with Bulgarian self-identification.

The Consulate General of the Republic of Bulgaria in Bitola was informed about the event in the evening of the 23rd of November. The Consul General Dimitar Ivanov immediately visited Ohrid and got in touch with members of the association and with the competent local authorities.

This criminal act is the third attack against the Club “Tsar Boris III” in less than two months. The previous offense was committed just two days ago, following which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent a note verbale to the Embassy of the Republic of North Macedonia in Sofia.

We take note of the reaction of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of North Macedonia, however we strongly disagree with the definition of these grave criminal acts as vandalism.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs hopes that the relevant institutions in the Republic of North Macedonia will take action as soon as possible to identify and launch proceedings against the perpetrators of the criminal offence committed against the Cultural club “Tsar Boris III”.

In the context of this event, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will summon and hand over a note of protest to the ambassador of the Republic of North Macedonia to Bulgaria Mrs Agneza Rusi-Popovska.

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