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

Yellow code for strong wind in 16 eastern and southwestern regions

On Wednesday , the lowest temperatures will be between 3 and 8°C. In the regions with strong wind it will be up to 10-12°C. In Sofia it will be around 4°C. In the western parts of the Danube Plain and the Upper Thracian Plain it will..

published on 11/25/25 7:50 PM

Drones to aid disaster and fire response in Burgas

Following a series of fires in the Burgas area last summer, including one that destroyed homes in a local villa district, the Burgas municipality has acquired high-tech drones equipped with thermal cameras, night vision, and 3D imaging . The two..

published on 11/25/25 7:01 PM

Bulgarian police break up migrant smuggling network

Illegal migrants from Syria, Iraq and Iran have been discovered in Sofia, and ten members of an organised criminal group have been arrested , Deputy City Prosecutor Desislava Petrova told reporters. Two of those arrested have been charged as the..

published on 11/25/25 6:48 PM