The Ambassador of the Republic of North Macedonia in Sofia Summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Over Desecration of Bulgarian National Symbols in Skopje
16 May 2025 News
Today, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of North Macedonia, Agneza Rusi Popovska, was summoned to a meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by Mr Yordan Parvanov, Director General for European Affairs. During the meeting, a protest note was delivered, in which the Bulgarian side expressed serious concern and deep dismay over recent incidents involving the desecration of Bulgarian national symbols on the territory of the neighbouring country.
On 4 May 2025, hours after wreaths had been laid at the grave of Gotse Delchev in the Church of St Spas, it was established that, among all the wreaths placed, only the tricolour ribbon bearing the Bulgarian flag had been removed. In addition, another act of vandalism was committed against the moraine, donated by Bulgaria, located in the Park of the Francophonie in Skopje.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria strongly condemns such hostile acts. It regrets to note that similar unacceptable incidents have been recorded in the past. The latest occurrence is indicative of a continuing pattern, suggesting that the consistent failure of the competent authorities in the Republic of North Macedonia to respond is further contributing to the entrenchment of anti-Bulgarian hostility and vandalism as a persistent trend.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria expects the authorities of the neighbouring country to take the necessary measures to identify the perpetrators of these acts and bring them to justice, as well as to ensure the timely restoration of the morena monument to its original state.