A condemnatory sentence against a prominent representative of the Bulgarian community in North Macedonia has provoked a sharp reaction from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria reacted sharply to the condemnatory sentence handed down today by the Basic Court in Bitola against Ljupco Georgievski. Mr. Georgievski is one of the most prominent representatives of the Bulgarian community in the Republic of North Macedonia, the chairman of the "Ivan Mihailov" Cultural Club in Bitola, which was closed by the authorities in Skopje, and a Bulgarian citizen.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it is absolutely unacceptable in a state that claims to be an example of a functioning multi-ethnic democracy, for the exercise of the right to free self-determination, the respect for Bulgarian national symbols, and the dissemination of Bulgarian literature to be punished with the threat of imprisonment. The authorities in North Macedonia have been accused of deliberately creating an atmosphere of intolerance through constant anti-Bulgarian rhetoric, in order to marginalize and stigmatize the Bulgarian community.

The violations of the rights of Bulgarians in North Macedonia are a fact that cannot be denied, emphasizes the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Today's court decision against Mr. Georgievski is another confirmation of the practical refusal of the authorities in our southwestern neighbor to guarantee the basic rights of this group of its citizens. Instead of protecting them, the judicial system is actively used against them, which is also a vivid proof of the problems identified by the EU with the independence, professionalism, efficiency and impartiality of the judicial system in North Macedonia.

However, the approach of institutional intimidation cannot silence the voice of Macedonian Bulgarians and their legitimate aspiration to ensure their rights as full-fledged citizens of North Macedonia in the spirit of European values ​​and achievements. The Bulgarian institutions remain unwavering in their commitment to guaranteeing the rights of Bulgarians in North Macedonia, including through the use of all international mechanisms in the field of human rights.