Strong reactions in Bulgaria after the closure of the Bulgarian club in Bitola

The closure of the Bulgarian cultural club "Ivan Mihailov" in Bitola by the authorities in the Republic of North Macedonia triggered strong reactions in Bulgaria.

After deciding that the name Ivan Mihaylov hurt the feelings of the Macedonian people, the authorities removed the club from the register of NGOs. Club chairman, Ljupco Georgievski, reacted that he would not change the name of the club and would seek his rights in court.

The foreign ministry described the ban as a violation of basic EU principles, while President Rumen Radev commented that this action was viewed very badly in Brussels.

In the museum of IMRO activists in Shtip, there is a corner and a whole wax figure of Ivan Mihailov. The museum was built and financed by the Macedonian state. And the Bulgarian cultural club "Ivan Mihailov" in Bitola was built and financed by the Macedonian Bulgarian Ljupco Georgievski. The museum in Shtip works smoothly. The club in Bitola was banned by the state.

"They don't mind the name Ivan Mihailov at all. It is the unification of Bulgarians under that name that bothers them. They don't want Bulgarians to associate," he said.

Georgievski refuses to rename the club and will seek his rights in court.

"We know that there will be no positive decision, we will use all legal means in the Republic of North Macedonia, from then on we will go to Strasbourg."

MFA: With the deletion of the Bulgarian club in Bitola from the Central Registry, North Macedonia violates basic EU principles

The banning of the club violates fundamental EU principles such as freedom of expression and association, the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry responded.

"This approach is highly counterproductive to the aspirations of the neighbouring country for the fastest possible European integration," said Kostadin Kodzhabashev, caretaker deputy foreign minister and spokesman for the Foreign Ministry.

"We are working on two tracks. One track is to provide any requested support that those organisations, which are being wiped out in this unprincipled way, would ask for. And the second is to inform not only the Commission but all our EU partners about this type of outrageous behaviour," added Zhelyazko Radukov, a senior expert at the Foreign Ministry.

President Rumen Radev described this decision as an expression of panic.

"The deletion of the names of the Bulgarian clubs will not erase the firm determination of Bulgaria, of the European institutions, of our European partners - the Republic of North Macedonia to include the Macedonian Bulgarians in their Constitution - this is the starting point for the integration of our neighbour into the EU."

"The same fate may befall the King Boris III Club in Ohrid. This would make certain obstacles for Macedonia's journey to the EU", says journalist Vladimir Perev.

The club's chairman, Ljupco Georgievski, will not seek support from Bulgarian institutions for now.

"We only want solidarity and fraternal support from the Bulgarian state and the Bulgarian people. We are not victims here, we are fighters for human rights".

The authorities of the Republic of North Macedonia have brought four cases against Ljupco Georgievski. Two of them: for discrimination and hate speech. He will find out what the other two are on 4 April, when he is summoned to court in Bitola.

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