EditSofia warns Skopje ahead of sentencing in ‘landmark’ court case
Ljupčo Georgievski, an ethnic Bulgarian, is charged with inciting racial and ethnic hatred on Facebook
Bulgaria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs published a ‘Position’ on 22 May warning the authorities of North Macedonia that the bilateral relations, as well as Skopje’s EU path, risk to be impacted by the sentencing of Ljupčo Georgievski, a prominent advocate for Bulgarian culture.
Georgievski, who holds Bulgarian citizenship and identifies as ethnic Bulgarian, awaits the court sentence next week, after his trial ended on 21 May.
In July 2023, Georgievski, chairman of the now-defunct Ivan Mihaylov Cultural Club in Bitola, was charged with inciting racial and ethnic hatred and xenophobia. The accusations stem from posts on the club’s Facebook page, which shared quotes from Ivan Mihaylov, a Bulgarian revolutionary and leader of the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization (VMRO). The case was initiated following complaints from the Commission for Prevention and Protection from Discrimination, the Levitsa party, and the Union of Fighters in Bitola.
The Ivan Mihaylov Cultural Club, established in 2020 as a private initiative under the framework of the Good Neighborhood Treaty between Bulgaria and North Macedonia, aimed to promote the region’s Bulgarian heritage. However, in 2023, North Macedonian authorities passed a controversial law retroactively banning organisations named after figures deemed “controversial” by the state. Critics argue this legislation specifically targets Bulgarian cultural institutions, reflecting a broader anti-Bulgarian sentiment.
The retroactive law has raised questions about freedom of expression and cultural heritage in North Macedonia. By targeting figures like Mihaylov, the government appears to prioritize a Macedonian nationalist narrative over historical pluralism, potentially alienating both its Bulgarian minority and its neighbor, Bulgaria.
“The authorities in Skopje have been repeatedly told that this case is a landmark case for Bulgaria in terms of their willingness to guarantee the equality of Bulgarians and address the problems they face. This position has also been clearly stated by Bulgarian Foreign Minister Georg Georgiev during meetings with his counterpart from North Macedonia”, the Bulgarian foreign ministry states.
I adds that the diplomatic missions of EU member states in Skopje are aware of the nature of the charges in the case against Georgievski.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to inform its partners about the situation of Bulgarians in North Macedonia and to engage the international factor in their struggle for equal rights”, the ministry adds.
Former Macedonian PM testified as winess
On 21 May former Prime Minister Ljubčo Georgievski (no relation with the accused despite the similar name) testified as a witness in the Basic Court in Bitola. He defended Ljupčo Georgievski, arguing that the trial reflects a “double standard” in how historical figures are treated. He noted that while Mihaylov is scrutinized for events from 80 years ago, commemorations of Serbian influence during the Yugoslav era face no similar criticism.
The prosecution alleged that Ljupčo Georgievski’s actions, including opening the Ivan Mihaylov Cultural Club on Shabbat, offended Jewish communities and promoted hatred against Macedonians, partisans, and communist groups from the Yugoslav era. They further claim that Mihaylov collaborated with Mussolini and Hitler, a charge the defense disputes, arguing that the posts merely shared historical facts.
The former Macedonian PM, who holds a Bulgarian passport, emphasised that Ivan Mihaylov was neither a fascist nor anti-Semitic, pointing out that Mihaylov was never convicted in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, North Macedonia, or Italy, where he spent his later years. When pressed by the prosecutor on whether someone could commit a crime without being convicted, Georgievski quipped, “Yes, a typical example is Tito,” referencing the former Yugoslav leader Josip Broz Tito, who promoted Macedonism to suppress Bulgarian identity in the region.
The accused, Ljupčo Georgievski, remained defiant, calling the trial politically motivated. “They will neither scare me nor silence me,” he declared. “Our fight is 100 years old, that of our grandfathers from the VMRO, who fought for the freedom of the Bulgarian people in Macedonia.” He called for constitutional recognition of Bulgarians as a state-forming people in North Macedonia and advocated for a European future for all citizens.
The former PM’s reference to Tito is seen as a bold move, invoking a figure central to Yugoslav identity to challenge the prosecution’s narrative. His defense underscores a deeper struggle: the right to celebrate Bulgarian heritage in a country where such expressions are increasingly viewed with suspicion.
In an interview with BGNES in Bitola, the former Prime Minister expressed concern over North Macedonia’s trajectory. He criticised the government’s strategic decisions, particularly its rejection of constitutional change to include the Bulgarian minority, as enshrined in the EU’s roadmap for membership.
“The thesis is being promoted that the European Union will not expand, yet Albania and Montenegro are on track to join in 2028,” he noted. He also highlighted the inconsistent treatment of historical narratives, pointing out that Serbian holidays are celebrated without scrutiny, while Bulgarian heritage is suppressed.
The former PM warned that actions diverting North Macedonia from the European path could create a “negative atmosphere” vis-à-vis the EU, undermining the country’s integration prospects.
Georgievski’s remarks cut to the heart of the issue: North Macedonia’s identity crisis. By prioritising Serbian ties over Bulgarian reconciliation, the government risks alienating not only Bulgaria but also the EU, which has made clear that resolving historical disputes is a condition for accession.
Caption: High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas (L, and Bulgarian Foreign Minister Georg Georgiev (C) during the welcoming for ministers of foreign affairs of EU candidates and potential candidates at the informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in Gymnich format as part of Poland’s presidency of the EU council at the Polish Army Museum in Warsaw, Poland, 8 May 2025. [EPA-EFE/Pawel Supernak]
Updated: May 23, 2025 - 06:49
