Bulgaria will not tolerate violence against the Bulgarians in the Republic of North Macedonia, nor against Bulgarian citizens and will use all national and international instruments to protect their rights. This was what Bulgarian President Rumen Radev said at a meeting in the presidency with Kristian Pendikov, who was attacked in the city of Ohrid because of openly asserting his Bulgarian identity.

The head of state pointed out that hate crimes against Macedonian Bulgarians harm not only bilateral relations, but also the European perspective of the Republic of North Macedonia. A message from the presidential press service states that Bulgaria has informed its international partners about the anti-Bulgarian campaign in North Macedonia, which has escalated in recent days.

Pendikov has been discharged from the Medical Academy in Sofia, where he received treatment after he was attacked and beaten.