Position of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria
24 November 2022 News
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemns the serious crime perpetrated on the 23rd of November 2022 in Ohrid, Republic of North Macedonia, when a firearm was utilized against the Cultural club “Tsar Boris III”, an organization of citizens of North Macedonia with Bulgarian self-identification.
The Consulate General of the Republic of Bulgaria in Bitola was informed about the event in the evening of the 23rd of November. The Consul General Dimitar Ivanov immediately visited Ohrid and got in touch with members of the association and with the competent local authorities.
This criminal act is the third attack against the Club “Tsar Boris III” in less than two months. The previous offense was committed just two days ago, following which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent a note verbale to the Embassy of the Republic of North Macedonia in Sofia.
We take note of the reaction of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of North Macedonia, however we strongly disagree with the definition of these grave criminal acts as vandalism.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs hopes that the relevant institutions in the Republic of North Macedonia will take action as soon as possible to identify and launch proceedings against the perpetrators of the criminal offence committed against the Cultural club “Tsar Boris III”.
In the context of this event, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will summon and hand over a note of protest to the ambassador of the Republic of North Macedonia to Bulgaria Mrs Agneza Rusi-Popovska.