President Radev to Hristian Pendikov: Bulgaria will not tolerate violence against Macedonian Bulgarians and its citizens

The Bulgarian state will not tolerate violence against Bulgarians in the Republic of North Macedonia or its citizens and will use all national and international instruments to protect their rights, head of State Rumen Radev said on February 6 at a meeting with Hristian Pendikov, who was assaulted in the town of Ohrid for openly defending his Bulgarian identity. Bulgaria has informed its international partners about yet another anti-Bulgarian campaign in North Macedonia, which has escalated in recent days.

The institutions in North Macedonia must prove by deeds that they are not complicit in the decades-long hatred against Bulgaria, which has resulted in the arson attacks and shootings at Bulgarian cultural clubs and violence against Macedonian Bulgarians and Bulgarian citizens, and those responsible must be revealed and effectively punished, the head of State stressed. North Macedonia's attitude towards hate crimes against Macedonian Bulgarians is of key importance not only for bilateral relations, but also for the country's European perspective, the President stressed. He added that Bulgaria would follow the actions of the institutions in North Macedonia to guarantee the life and health of its citizens who, despite the systematic repression, continue to defend their Bulgarian national identity.

The inclusion of Bulgarians in the constitution of North Macedonia is a guarantee for its European perspective, as well as the real commitment of the institutions to the eradication of hate speech against Bulgaria and Bulgarians and the implementation of the bilateral good-neighbourhood agreement, the head of State further specified.

Radev congratulated Hristian Pendikov's mother for raising a worthy son and Hristian for his courage to defend his Bulgarian name.

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