Position of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
24 November 2025 News
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Skopje remain in constant contact with Mr Vladimir Perev, one of the most respected representatives of the Bulgarian community in the Republic of North Macedonia.
Since the moment of the attack, our diplomatic mission has been providing him with all necessary assistance. Minister Georg Georgiev spoke with him personally by telephone and emphasised that Bulgaria will continue to stand by him in this difficult moment. We firmly condemn yet another act of hate-motivated violence against a Bulgarian national in the Republic of North Macedonia – a phenomenon unfortunately fuelled by the current socio-political climate and anti-Bulgarian rhetoric. We take careful note of the issues raised by Mr Perev in his article in “Tribuna”, and we share his view that the case is not only a cause for reflection regarding the rights of Bulgarians in the country, but also an important test of the response of the law-enforcement authorities and their approach to hate crimes.
We expect the competent authorities in the Republic of North Macedonia to undertake timely and effective action to ensure investigation and justice. We recall that the country’s European path requires full and good-faith implementation of the European Compromise of 2022, including respect for shared values and guarantees for the rights of the Macedonian Bulgarians.