Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2024 All Rights Reserved

Reinforced security measures in Blagoevgrad as Macedonian Club opens up

Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev personally led the operation to protect public order

Photo: BNR-Blagoevgrad

An official opening of a "Macedonian Cultural Club "Nikola Vaptsarov" was held in Blagoevgrad. The private initiative was attended by opposition political leaders and Mile Bosnjakovski - Chief of Staff of the President of North Macedonia Stevo Pendarovski. 

An hour earlier the Bulgarian National Movement IMRO announced a protest against the opening of the club to be held in front of the monument to Gotse Delchev. The protesters met the group of Macedonians, who had headed to the city centre to lay flowers at the Gotse Delchev monument, and blocked their way, so they had to lay their flowers in the square. 
Hristijan Mickoski of the Macedonian party VMRO-DPMNE told the media, "We are here to support the opening of the new club. The right to self-determination must be respected. That is why we are here to support our Macedonian community in Bulgaria". To the remark that it is agreed in the Good Neighbour Agreement that there is no Macedonian minority in Bulgaria, the leader of the Macedonian conservative Integra party, Ljupcho Ristovski, replied that this document should be revised. Residents of the regional town believe that the opening of the club is an outright provocation, BNR correspondent Katti Trencheva reports from Blagoevgrad.
The central part of the town was blocked by police during the event to prevent provocations. Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev personally led the operation to protect public order. The police did not allow any disturbances.







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

The flu season is expected to peak at the end of December and the beginning of January

The flu season is expected to peak at the end of December and the beginning of January. In an interview with BNT, general practitioner Dr. Gergana Nikolova clarified that there are currently isolated positive cases of influenza. COVID-19 also..

published on 11/25/24 10:26 AM

The Bulgarian Antarctic base "St. Kliment Ohridski" reopens for the new polar research season

The Bulgarian Antarctic base "St. Kliment Ohridski" officially opened its doors on the eve of its patron saint's day . The members of the Bulgarian Antarctic expedition, led by Professor Hristo Pimpirev, set foot on the snowy shores of Livingston..

published on 11/25/24 10:14 AM
Rumen Radev (L) and Luong Cuong (R)

President Rumen Radev: Vietnam is an important partner for Bulgaria

After the meeting with his Vietnamese counterpart Luong Cuong in Hanoi, President Rumen Radev emphasized that Bulgaria will continue to support efforts to deepen cooperation between the European Union and Vietnam, reported BNR's special envoy to..

published on 11/25/24 9:51 AM