2024: 17 years from the date Republic of Bulgaria became EU member, 34 years since it became a democracy, 61 years from the implementing the policy of negating, discrimination and assimilation of its Macedonian minority.
CONTENTS
* Introduction: Situation of the Macedonian Minority and More Important Events in 2024
* Negation of the Macedonian Minority, Nation and Identity
* Hate Speech
* Violation of the Right to Freedom of Expression
* Violation of the Right to Freedom of Assembly
* Violation of the Right to Association
* Discrimination of Macedonian Organizations and Activists
* Lack of Protection and Cooperation by Institutions
* Refusal of the Authorities to Engage in Dialogue
* Conclusion and Recommendations
INTRODUCTION
Situation of the Macedonian Minority in Bulgaria in 2024
The situation of the Macedonian minority in Bulgaria in 2024 remains unchanged.
None of the rights stipulated in the Framework Convention on National Minority Rights have
been granted to the Macedonian minority and the tendency in that regard continued to be
negative.
In schools, children do not learn anything about the Macedonian minority and nation; on the
contrary, children are provided with information in which there is no place for the existence of
the Macedonian nation and minority. The Macedonian literary language, literature and history
continued not being taught [1]. On television and in the media several methods are employed to
present the sole viewpoint, according to which there is no Macedonian nation, that everything
Macedonian is Bulgarian and that every differing opinion is “anti-Bulgarian”. On educational
TV programs or debates the Macedonian point of view is not represented. The very notion of
Macedonian consciousness (“Macedonianism” as it is labelled in Bulgaria) is considered to be
an artificial anti-Bulgarian ideology. The Macedonian point of view is not included in lectures
and discussions about history. Macedonian consciousness itself (“Macedonianism” as it is
labelled in Bulgaria) is looked upon as an artificial anti-Bulgarian ideology. Macedonian
consciousness (and also the Macedonian nation as a whole) in Bulgaria is considered to be a
product of a Communist experiment or the result of hostile foreign propaganda. A climate of
intolerance reigns in society against Macedonians and they are the object of hate speech, which
is often given wide exposure through the media without being sanctioned by the institutions of
the state and without encountering any condemnation by the wider society.
By taking advantage of the artificially created atmosphere of intolerance, the Bulgarian state
successfully keeps representatives of the minority isolated from political and social life in the
country-both individually [2] and collectively by not registering Macedonian parties and
organisations which defend the rights of the Macedonians.
The number of pending Macedonian cases in the EHRC increased from 11 in 2022 to 21 in
2023 to 31 2024 [3]. 24 of them are already communicated before February 2024 – 20 about the
refusal to obtain registration and 4 for the violation of the right to peaceful assembly, and 7 a
newly sent to the court.
The Bulgarian authorities consistently stress that the decisions of the ECtHR and the
Committee of Ministers do not prescribe the automatic registration of Macedonian
organisations and point out in a detailed way the measures they have taken to remove the errors
before the registration of Macedonian organisations, but at the same time do not display any
concern for the fact that their “measures” have zero effect and have achieved absolutely nothing
(something emphasized at the Committee of Ministers decisions). At the same time. They
consistently avoid taking measures, either on their own initiative or when they are called upon
to do so, which would remove existing barriers. For example, by making a referral to the
Constitutional Court for it to provided interpretive decisions of articles of the Constitution
which are constantly abused by the courts as argumentation for the non-registration of
Macedonian organisations; or for this same court to rescind or provide a new interpretation of
its decision of 29 February 2000 which mentions inter alia that “there is no Macedonian
ethnicity in the Republic of Bulgaria” and which is one of the basic arguments used in decisions
to refuse the registration the courts. In addition, the authorities have not undertaken any action
to withdraw the official views expressed by the Parliament and ministries that there is no
Macedonian minority in Bulgaria; on the contrary, these same views are actively supported. In
addition, the authorities display an extraordinary slowness and lack of desire to implement the
measures recommended to them by the Committee of Ministers leaving them to a large degree
to remain as merely a formal expression of wishing to do so.
During 2024 the Bulgarian state did not take any measures to improve the situation of the
Macedonian minority. On the contrary, it made efforts to prevent the recognition of a
Macedonian minority as well as each and every question in that regard.
Macedonians are not represented in state institutions, by elected representatives (due to the lack
of a registered political party) or by organisations. Not one of the registered parties in Bulgaria
defends the rights of the Macedonians in Bulgaria. Representatives from across society, with
the exception of a small section of civil society [4] treat Macedonians, at best, as something non
existent and not a serious category of persons and, at worst, as a danger to national security and
treason. There are no (and there have not been) any Macedonian representatives on the
Commission on Minorities. When ethnic groups in Bulgaria are officially spoken and written
about, Macedonians are not mentioned at all and Macedonian culture, language and history are
not represented in any government publication or official web site. Macedonians are not
included in any programs concerning ethnic communities and do not receive any type of
assistance from the state for the preservation and development of their culture and identity [5].
This year as well neither the Commission Against Discrimination, the Ombudsman's office, or
any other organisation adopted an official stance regarding the situation of the Macedonians in
Bulgaria, despite the fact that the number of judgements against Bulgaria at the European Court
of Human Rights has risen to 14. In 34 years of democracy not one Bulgarian official institution
has done so.
Despite the large number of recommendations by international bodies, Bulgarian authorities
persistently continue to refuse to enter into a dialogue with the Macedonian minority.
The Republic of Bulgaria has made a concerted effort to make the raising of this issue within
the European Union impossible.
Read the full report here.
[1] PACE: Post-monitoring dialogue with Bulgaria, Explanatory memorandum by Mr Frank Schwabe and Mr Zsolt
Németh, co-rapporteurs,http://assembly.coe.int/nw/xml/XRef/Xref-XML2HTML-en.asp?fileid=27711&lang=en,
160: “There is no Macedonian language or history in schools.”
[2] There is not one politically or socially influential personality in the country who publicly states that he/she
possesses a Macedonian consciousness, which shows that such persons are either unable to achieve such a status
or that they are forced to cover up their self-determination as Macedonians because of a fear of negative
consequences.
[3] According to the statement by Macedonian MP Zaklina Peshevska from the VMRO-DPMNE party made on
27.02.2025 in Strasbourg, there are 89 cases related to the Macedonian minority in Bulgaria waiting for
implementation https://nezavisen.mk/bugarski-evroparlamentarec-zamolchen-vo-makedonskoto
sobranie/?fbclid=IwY2xjawIufntleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHRLhCC7Fw0Cvrxl0lR7wt13-VELtyKJ
wTcft31cJfJi1wI47s-OxDoSIg_aem_7rDZGRvLCKVBpsMFwouh3A
[4] Here we should mention the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee and the people grouped around the "Marginalia"
editorial office.
[5] PACE: Post-monitoring dialogue, 160.
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