Yotova: Bulgaria will not abandon Bulgarians in North Macedonia and will defend their rights

Bulgarian President Iliana Yotova said Sofia will not abandon Bulgarians living in the Republic of North Macedonia and pledged that Bulgaria will continue to defend their rights.

Yotova made the remarks on Saturday at Petrova Niva, where she attended commemorations for the 123rd anniversary of the Ilinden–Preobrazhenie uprising. She framed the message as both a political stance and a moral duty toward people who identify as Bulgarian across the border.

Context and message

Commenting on relations between the two countries, Yotova argued that a shared past should not become a reason for division. "Today in the Republic of North Macedonia people speak about Bulgarians, and our history is shared. What do we have to divide?" she said.

She added that both political leaders and civil society must oppose the language of hatred. "We will not give up on you and we will defend your rights, the rights of every person. This is not a political declaration. For me it is a true respect for the pledge of the Ilinden fighters, who knew that only with unity can we have freedom, statehood and freedom for every person," Yotova said.

The statements come against the backdrop of Sofia's long-standing demands in bilateral talks. Bulgaria has insisted that people who identify as Bulgarians be recognised as a minority in North Macedonia's constitution — a condition that was reflected in the Negotiating Framework for North Macedonia's accession to the European Union. Sofia has also pressed for a joint interpretation of historical figures and events, especially those from the period before and during the Second World War.

Yotova's public interventions at commemorations such as Petrova Niva are part of a broader diplomatic effort by Bulgaria to keep minority rights and historical interpretation high on the agenda in its relations with North Macedonia.

Photo: press material from the event