The Minister of Foreign Affairs Georg Georgiev spoke on the phone with the publicist Vladimir (Vlado) Perev - one of the most respected representatives of the Bulgarian community in the Republic of North Macedonia, who was attacked and beaten today in Skopje, according to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
This was reported by the Bulgarian National Radio.
80-year-old Vladimir Perev told Tribuna.mk that a man twice his age hit him in the face and broke his glasses because he was from the Bulgarian community in the Republic of North Macedonia.
The attacker shouted that Bulgarians should go to Bulgaria and threatened Perev with hanging.
Minister Georgiev assured the injured journalist that Bulgaria will continue to be his support in this difficult time for him.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemned another act of hate violence against a Bulgarian in the Republic of North Macedonia:
"We categorically condemn another act of hate violence against a Bulgarian in the Republic of North Macedonia – a phenomenon, unfortunately fueled by the current socio-political atmosphere and anti-Bulgarian rhetoric", the position says.
And further: "We expect the competent authorities in the Republic of North Macedonia to take timely and effective action for investigation and justice. We remind you that the country's European path requires full and conscientious implementation of the 2022 European compromise, including respect for common values and guaranteeing the rights of Macedonian Bulgarians,", the position of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reads.