Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Reinforced security measures in Blagoevgrad as Macedonian Club opens up

Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev personally led the operation to protect public order

Photo: BNR-Blagoevgrad

An official opening of a "Macedonian Cultural Club "Nikola Vaptsarov" was held in Blagoevgrad. The private initiative was attended by opposition political leaders and Mile Bosnjakovski - Chief of Staff of the President of North Macedonia Stevo Pendarovski. 

An hour earlier the Bulgarian National Movement IMRO announced a protest against the opening of the club to be held in front of the monument to Gotse Delchev. The protesters met the group of Macedonians, who had headed to the city centre to lay flowers at the Gotse Delchev monument, and blocked their way, so they had to lay their flowers in the square. 
Hristijan Mickoski of the Macedonian party VMRO-DPMNE told the media, "We are here to support the opening of the new club. The right to self-determination must be respected. That is why we are here to support our Macedonian community in Bulgaria". To the remark that it is agreed in the Good Neighbour Agreement that there is no Macedonian minority in Bulgaria, the leader of the Macedonian conservative Integra party, Ljupcho Ristovski, replied that this document should be revised. Residents of the regional town believe that the opening of the club is an outright provocation, BNR correspondent Katti Trencheva reports from Blagoevgrad.
The central part of the town was blocked by police during the event to prevent provocations. Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev personally led the operation to protect public order. The police did not allow any disturbances.







Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

 Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov

Premier Zhelyazkov participates at an informal meeting of EU leaders in Brussels

On February 3, Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov will participate in an informal meeting of EU leaders focused on strengthening European defense. The informal meeting will take place at the Palais d’Egmont in Brussels. The discussions will cover..

published on 2/3/25 6:05 AM

A contingent from Austria, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria starts guarding the Bulgarian-Turkish border

On February 3 (Monday), a joint contingent of officers from Bulgaria, Austria, Romania and Hungary will begin guarding the Bulgaria-Turkiye border, which is now an external border of the Schengen Area. The start of the joint operation will be..

published on 2/3/25 5:05 AM

Part of the 2G and 3G networks in Bulgaria to be switched off in 2025

Some of the existing mobile networks in Bulgaria will be switched off in 2025. The Chairman of the Communications Regulation Commission, Ivan Dimitrov, explained that the frequency resource will be reallocated, creating opportunities for better..

published on 2/2/25 5:21 PM