Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Reinforced security measures in Blagoevgrad as Macedonian Club opens up

Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev personally led the operation to protect public order

Photo: BNR-Blagoevgrad

An official opening of a "Macedonian Cultural Club "Nikola Vaptsarov" was held in Blagoevgrad. The private initiative was attended by opposition political leaders and Mile Bosnjakovski - Chief of Staff of the President of North Macedonia Stevo Pendarovski. 

An hour earlier the Bulgarian National Movement IMRO announced a protest against the opening of the club to be held in front of the monument to Gotse Delchev. The protesters met the group of Macedonians, who had headed to the city centre to lay flowers at the Gotse Delchev monument, and blocked their way, so they had to lay their flowers in the square. 
Hristijan Mickoski of the Macedonian party VMRO-DPMNE told the media, "We are here to support the opening of the new club. The right to self-determination must be respected. That is why we are here to support our Macedonian community in Bulgaria". To the remark that it is agreed in the Good Neighbour Agreement that there is no Macedonian minority in Bulgaria, the leader of the Macedonian conservative Integra party, Ljupcho Ristovski, replied that this document should be revised. Residents of the regional town believe that the opening of the club is an outright provocation, BNR correspondent Katti Trencheva reports from Blagoevgrad.
The central part of the town was blocked by police during the event to prevent provocations. Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev personally led the operation to protect public order. The police did not allow any disturbances.







Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Borislav Sarafov

Acting Prosecutor General issues reminder on MPs' immunity requests

Acting Prosecutor-General Borislav Sarafov has sent a letter to the Speaker of the National Assembly Natalia Kiselova reminding her that the Prosecutor's Office has not yet received any information on the requests to lift the immunity of three MPs, the..

published on 1/9/25 3:25 PM

BOC is the only representative of Eastern Orthodoxy in Bulgaria, MPs agree

The three draft amendments to the Law on Religious Denominations received a large majority in the first reading in the National Assembly. The new texts were prompted by a decision by the Supreme Court of Cassation to register a religious organisation..

published on 1/9/25 1:54 PM

Prime Minister calls on parliament to legally regulate the status of the name of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church

The government's position is constant. The Bulgarian Orthodox Church (BOC) is one and indivisible, its unity is of particular importance for society. Taking into account the principles of the rule of law and the separation of powers,..

published on 1/9/25 11:27 AM