Bulgarian foundations expand influence from Pustec to North Macedonia

Bulgarian foundations and organizations have carried out a wide range of social and cultural activities across the border — from street lighting and municipal equipment in Pustec (Albania) to donations for children, cultural projects and local associations in North Macedonia. While these initiatives are presented as humanitarian, educational and cultural assistance, critics say some include messages tied to Bulgarian national identity.

On 11 and 12 September a Bulgarian medical team visited Pustec to provide free check-ups; publicly available reports say the team arrived on a military transport plane and that Bulgaria's ministries of foreign affairs, health and defence, together with members of parliament from several parties, were involved. The action was organized by the "Bulgarska memorija" Foundation and supported by the Municipality of Pustec.

The Macedonian Alliance for European Integration (MAEI) accused the operation of using medical aid as political propaganda and of promoting a Bulgarian identity among the local population. The NGO "Društvo Prespa" issued a similar response. MAEI president Vasil Sterjovski challenged the purely humanitarian framing of the assistance, saying: "We have sent hundreds of letters, requests and public statements to the Albanian institutions, but they have taken no action."

Extensive spending in Pustec and projects in North Macedonia

The "Bulgarska pamet" Foundation, led by businessman Milen Vrabevski, has also been active in Pustec. According to public information, over five years the foundation invested about one million euros in the municipality. In 2024 the foundation donated 25 computers and monitors plus dozens of desks, tables and chairs to the municipal building; the same year it provided a medical container for the village of Globocheni, benches and photocopiers. In September 2025 the foundation financed 100 new streetlights across four villages: Zrnovsko, Globocheni, Gorna Gorica and Sredna Gorica. The foundation states that many of these actions are aimed at supporting what it calls the historical Bulgarian diaspora.

Separately, "Bulgarska pamet" has funded cultural, educational, youth and humanitarian projects in North Macedonia: support for the children's art studio "Sv. Kiril i Metodij" in Bitola, maintenance of Bulgarian military graves near Novo Selo, assistance to vulnerable children and cooperation with local associations. The foundation is also listed as a financial supporter of the Bitola-based association "Balkanski most", founded in 2023. In December 2024 "Balkanski most" and the association "Unirooz", backed by "Bulgarska pamet", ran a humanitarian drive in Bitola distributing New Year packages and other aid to institutions including the Home for Infants and Small Children and the organisation "Harmonichen svet".

In a 2022 interview Milen Vrabevski said he is the main funder of Bulgarian cultural centres in North Macedonia and that his initiatives are "strictly synchronised" with the Bulgarian state and in some cases implemented at its request; he also listed among the foundation's goals the protection of "national interests and priorities."

Questions were sent to North Macedonia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Government asking whether they had responded to MAEI's claims that medical aid was used as political propaganda and as denial of Macedonian identity, but neither institution replied by the time of publication.

In a broader media and communications context, the Ministry of Interior and the Agency for National Security opened an investigation two months ago into about 20 communication channels — web portals and social network profiles and pages. Authorities say they are examining links between them, how they operate and how they are financed amid suspicions of coordinated posts, hate speech and disinformation connected to the dispute between North Macedonia and Bulgaria. So far the Ministry has only stated briefly that the investigation is ongoing and the Agency for National Security did not respond to requests for comment.

Photo: Printskrin/Jutjub/SOT7