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

North Macedonian authorities close down Bulgarian club "Ivan Mihailov" in Bitola

Photo: BGNES

North Macedonia has deleted the Bulgarian club "Ivan Mihailov" in Bitola from its central register. This comes after a decision by the Ministry of Justice in Skopje on March 17. It is based on the recent change in the Associations and Foundations Act voted unanimously by the Parliament in North Macedonia. The established Commission on names in North Macedonia also gave a negative opinion on the name of the club and requested that it be renamed.

The chairman of the "Ivan Mihailov" association in Bitola, Lyupcho Georgievski, wrote on Facebook that the Bulgarians in North Macedonia will seek their rights in Strasbourg.

The Bulgarian club was established by Macedonian Bulgarians in Bitola 3 years ago. The official opening in April 2022 was attended by then Prime Minister Kiril Petkov, Vice President Iliana Iotova and Minister of Foreign Affairs Teodora Genchovska. A month later, the club was set on fire and the culprit received a suspended sentence. On January 19, 2023, the secretary of the local Bulgarian association Hristiyan Pendikov was brutally beaten in Ohrid.




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

Presidential Administration will not use cars of the National Service for Protection

The cars of the National Service for Protection will no longer be at the disposal of the administration of the presidential institution, the MPs have decided, BNR reporter Daniel Inkov informed. This does not apply to the cars used..

published on 10/3/25 4:21 PM

Bulgaria and North Macedonia sign agreement on cross-border railway tunnel

The Council of Ministers approved amendments to the Agreement between Bulgaria and North Macedonia on the preparation, construction and operation of a cross-border railway tunnel. “Following correspondence, notes were received from..

published on 10/3/25 3:40 PM

UPDATE Flood in Elenite resort claimed three victims

Bulgaria was hit by severe weather on Friday, with snow in the western parts and torrential rain in the East, the Bulgarian News agency BTA  reported.  Three men, including two rescuers died in a coastal resort after heavy rainfall..

published on 10/3/25 2:20 PM