site.btaForeign Ministry: Bulgaria Еxpects Fair Court Ruling and Dismissal of Unfounded Charges against Ljupcho Georgievski

The Bulgarian Foreign Ministry expects a fair court ruling and dismissal of unfounded charges against Ivan Mihailov Cultural Center Association Chair Ljupcho Georgievski, for inciting racial and ethnic hatred and xenophobia. "However, this justice, unfortunately, will not erase the recent years of enormous stress and disturbed personal life of the Macedonian Bulgarian," the Ministry said in a statement Thursday.

The Foreign Ministry said that it will continue to insist, including by engaging its partners from the European Union, that this pressure on the Bulgarian community in North Macedonia be stopped. Bulgarian institutions remain steadfastly committed to their consistent efforts to protect the rights of Macedonian Bulgarians, including Mr. Ljupcho Georgievski, the statement added.

The Ministry noted that it has been following the development of the process since its very beginning more than two years ago. "Both the Embassy of Bulgaria in Skopje and the Consulate General in Bitola are constantly involved, including the presence of the Ambassador, the Consul General and consuls from both representations at the meeting on May 21. The authorities in Skopje have been repeatedly informed that this case is a landmark case for Bulgaria in terms of their readiness to guarantee the equality of Bulgarians and address the problems they face. This position has also been clearly stated by Bulgarian Minister of Foreign Affairs Georg Georgiev during meetings with his counterpart from North Macedonia. The diplomatic missions of EU member states in Skopje are also familiar with the nature of the charges in the case against Georgievski. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to inform its partners about the situation of Bulgarians in North Macedonia and to engage the international factor in their struggle for equal rights," the position further states.

In the latest development in Georgievski's case, the former Prime Minister of the Republic of North Macedonia, Ljubcho Georgievski, appeared before the Basic Court in Bitola as a witness for the defence. He said that Ivan Mihailov was neither a fascist nor anti-Semitic, and that he had never been convicted in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, in the Republic of (North) Macedonia, or in Italy, where he lived during the last years of his life. He explained that his motivation to testify stemmed from what he sees as a double standard by the prosecution: that Ivan Mihailov is being judged for something that happened 80 years ago, while events related to the Serbian occupation are commemorated in North Macedonia without provoking any reaction. The court has eight days from the latest hearing, to announce the judgment.

In a declaration read in Parliament earlier on Thursday, the nationalist party Vazrazhdane urged the Bulgarian State to react regarding the Georgiveski case. The chair of the parliamentary committee for Bulgarians abroad and Vazrazhdane MP Stoyan Taslakov called an extraordinary session due to the case against Lyubcho Georgievski.