"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs defines as categorically unacceptable the conviction pronounced today by the Basic Court in Bitola against Ljubco Georgievski."
This was commented on Facebook by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Georg Georgiev.
"Mr. Georgievski is one of the most prominent representatives of the Bulgarian community in the Republic of North Macedonia, chairman of the “Ivan Mihaylov“ Cultural Club, which was closed by the authorities in Skopje – Bitola and a Bulgarian citizen", he points out.
"It is absolutely unacceptable in a country that claims to be an example of a functioning multiethnic democracy, that the open declaration of belonging to the Bulgarian people, the veneration of Bulgarian national symbols and heroes and the dissemination of authentic Bulgarian literature should be punished with the threat of imprisonment", the minister added.
"There is no doubt that the approach of the authorities in North Macedonia, along with the purposeful creation of an atmosphere of intolerance through constant anti-Bulgarian rhetoric, aims to marginalize and stigmatize the Bulgarian community from exercising the right to free self-determination," he points out.
"The violations of the rights of Bulgarians in North Macedonia are a fact that cannot be denied. Today's court ruling against Mr. Georgievski is yet another confirmation of the practical refusal of the authorities in our southwestern neighbor to guarantee the fundamental rights of this group of its citizens. Quite the opposite - instead of protecting them, the judicial system is actively used against them. This is also clear evidence of the problems clearly identified by the EU with the independence, professionalism, efficiency and impartiality of the judicial system in North Macedonia", states Georg Georgiev.
"However, the approach of institutional intimidation cannot silence the voice of the Macedonian Bulgarians and their legitimate aspiration to guarantee their rights as full citizens of North Macedonia in the spirit of European values and achievements.
Bulgarian institutions remain unwaveringly committed to guaranteeing the rights of Bulgarians in North Macedonia, including the use of all international mechanisms in the field of human rights," he also says.