Minister Georg Georgiev Receives Ljupcho Georgievski, Chairman of the Now-Dissolved Association "Ivan Mihaylov Cultural Club", at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
17 June 2025 News
“The most important thing throughout the entire period of hardship you endured was knowing that Bulgaria stood firmly behind you – with the full strength of its government, its institutions, its representation in the Republic of North Macedonia. We have profound doubts regarding the motives presented against you and the very grounds of the case brought against you,” stated Minister of Foreign Affairs Georg Georgiev to Lyupcho Georgievski. Georg Georgiev received today, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the chairman of the now-dissolved “Ivan Mihailov Cultural Club” association. The meeting took place within the framework of the Bulgarian state's intensified efforts to defend the rights of Bulgarians in the Republic of North Macedonia.
During the conversation, Bulgaria’s top diplomat expressed the unequivocal support of the Bulgarian state for Mr Georgievski, who was handed a one-year suspended sentence with a two-year probation period by the Court in Bitola. The case against him is related to his activities as chairman of the “Ivan Mihailov Cultural Club” association – an organization that faced sharp opposition from the authorities in the Republic of North Macedonia and was ultimately dissolved.
He emphasized that Bulgaria views the case against Georgievski as a politically motivated proceeding. “Politically motivated processes that use state institutions and courts to persecute individuals who self-identify as Bulgarians and defend their identity are absolutely unacceptable in a country that presents itself as European,” said Georg Georgiev.
Minister Georgiev further emphasized that the right to self-identification is a fundamental principle of the European Union and must not be subject to question. “The way in which you defend your principles and heritage – through the cultural club and through your overall activities – is more than worthy of being embraced by us as a state, protected, and supported. With that, we stand fully and unwaveringly behind you,” he stated.
Ljupcho Georgievski expressed his gratitude for the support of the Bulgarian state. “I do not consider the sentence a source of shame. On the contrary – it is an honor for me to be tried as a Bulgarian who defends Bulgarian identity in Macedonia. Years ago, we sought to prove our Bulgarian descent; today I have a document confirming my Bulgarian origin – something my grandchildren will be proud of,” he said.
Minister Georgiev reiterated that Bulgarian institutions remain unswervingly committed to guaranteeing the rights of Bulgarians in the Republic of North Macedonia, including through the use of all international human rights mechanisms.