site.btaLjupcho Georgievski Says It Is Time to Act on All Issues Facing Bulgarians in North Macedonia

Addressing Bulgaria's parliamentary Committee on European Affairs, Ljupcho Georgievski, chairman of the now-dissolved Ivan Mihailov Cultural Club in Bitola (North Macedonia), said on Tuesday it is important to act now on all the problems faced by all Bulgarians in the Republic of North Macedonia. "People are being persecuted and pressured. It is hard to explain this to someone who has not lived in that country," he said.

The meeting was attended by Bulgaria's Ambassador in Skopje, Zhelyazko Radukov, and Hristian Pendikov, secretary of the King Boris III Cultural Club in Ohrid.

On June 12, Georgievski received a 12-month suspended sentence with a two-year probation period from the Basic Court in Bitola.

Earlier on Tuesday, Georgievski met with President Rumen Radev and Foreign Minister Georg Georgiev. Ljupcho Georgievski thanked the political parties and the institutions which backed him. "I am not the only Bulgarian in the Republic of North Macedonia who is being investigated or prosecuted; more or less, all Bulgarians face the same issues. There must be a reaction to everything that is happening there," he said.

"For me, this sentence is not a shame, it is an honour to be tried as a Bulgarian in North Macedonia, as a follower of Ivan Mihailov," Georgievski reiterated, adding that the charges against him are absurd, namely, that he had quoted Ivan Mihailov. "Every count of the indictment begins with the statement that I shared something in standard literary Bulgarian," he said, noting that political parties exert pressure on the prosecuting magistrates.

"Bulgaria has done enough in terms of diplomacy: there were representatives present, the Embassy never abandoned us, we have always had support," Georgievski said, answering a question from Elisaveta Belobradova MP of Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria (CC-DB).

"Invite Bulgarians [from North Macedonia] and hear them out in the Bulgarian Parliament. Let everyone know what is happening in North Macedonia," Georgievski said. "I expect you to explain to your political families what is happening in North Macedonia and to strengthen the Bulgarian media presence," he added.

All the parliamentary forces expressed unconditional support for Georgievski and Bulgarians in North Macedonia.

Dafinka Semerdzhieva, Deputy Chair of the Committee on European Affairs: GERB-UDF firmly supports the Bulgarians in North Macedonia and condemns the court's decision in Bitola. The Bulgarian Parliament, as well as all political parties, are united in their support for Ljupcho Georgievski.

Vazrazhdane leader Kostadin Kostadinov: Lifting the Bulgarian veto [on the start of EU accession talks with North Macedonia] was a mistake. We insist on a firm and unequivocal position, even if it means threatening the EU with sabotaging its procedures. Once again, Sofia has betrayed the Bulgarians in North Macedonia - three years ago we lifted the veto, and we now see the consequences. These people are victims of Bulgaria's betrayal of its interests in North Macedonia in 2022. We are not certain what will happen on June 24, when the report on North Macedonia's progress towards EU accession is expected to be published.

Continue the Change (CC) Co-chair Assen Vassilev (replying to Kostadinov): North Macedonia will not start EU accession talks as long as cases like that of Ljupcho Georgievski exist. Negotiations will not start until all conditions are met and until both Bulgaria and the EU confirm that they are met. If North Macedonia wants to be part of the EU, then anyone who identifies as Bulgarian must not be persecuted for it.

CC Co-chair Kiril Petkov: Our national interest is to demonstrate that such outrages cannot be allowed to happen.

CC Co-floor leader Nikolay Denkov: I hope that Bulgaria will show greater maturity than North Macedonia. We can support you, but ultimately, it is the people in North Macedonia who will want European development.

Atidzhe Alieva-Veli MP of MRF-New Beginning: The guilty verdict does not reflect a genuine commitment to North Macedonia's EU integration. Our parliamentary group will push for a strong position that clearly explains our arguments to all European partners, so that the stance of Bulgaria's Parliament and government can be heard and accepted.

Parliament's Deputy Chair Dragomir Stoynev MP of BSP - United Left: Our strength lies in our partners from the EU - we are counting on them to help find a solution to this problem. Georgievski can rely on Bulgaria's support with whatever is needed.

Toshko Yordanov, Floor Leader of There Is Such a People: No group in this National Assembly would accept the nonsense currently being spoken by North Macedonia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The authorities in North Macedonia will not see Bulgaria give in, as is also evident in the stance taken by Bulgarian MEPs from various political families.

Hristo Rastashki MP of Morality, Unity, Honor (MECh): It is unacceptable for a country that claims to be ready for EU membership to prosecute someone for quoting a Bulgarian revolutionary on their Facebook wall. Bulgarian diplomacy must stand firm, we cannot allow North Macedonia into the EU until this issue is resolved and the repression against Bulgarian citizens ceases.

In a closed-door sitting, the Committee on European Affairs gave a hearing to Bulgaria's Ambassador to North Macedonia Zhelyazko Radukov.