Position of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
22 October 2026 News
Today in Ohrid, the first hearing on the renewed case of the brutal beating in January 2023 of Hristian Pendikov was held. Then hatred brought the Macedonian Bulgarian to the brink of paralysis and forced his prolonged treatment in Bulgaria.
We recall that its attackers had already been convicted with insignificant sentences at first instance in 2025, and for inexplicable reasons the motive "hatred" was dropped from the considerations of the court. Subsequently, the Court of Appeal in Bitola returned the case for retrial at first instance.
At today's session, in less than two hours, the Main Court in Ohrid fully acquitted the perpetrators of the beating. Thus, the judicial system in the Republic of North Macedonia once again left without consequences a serious hate crime against a Macedonian Bulgarian and illustrates the reasons for the lagging behind of the neighbouring country in European integration.
It is unacceptable to further affirm the sense of impunity for hate crimes in the Republic of North Macedonia. Precisely because of the accumulation of such problems, the 2022 European Compromise focused on the topic of the rights of Bulgarians. The results of the non-implementation of this compromise, including for the country's European integration, are obvious.
Bulgaria will continue to fully support Hristian Pendikov and all Bulgarians in the Republic of North Macedonia in their fight for justice and equal rights, no matter how much time and effort it takes.