Reinforced security measures in Blagoevgrad as Macedonian Club opens up

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

published on 10/30/22 3:49 PM

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.

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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.