2025: 19 years of the Republic of Bulgaria's membership in the EU, 35 years of democracy, 62 years since the beginning of the policy of denial, assimilation and discrimination of the Macedonian minority in Bulgaria

Contents:

• Introduction: The situation of the Macedonian minority and major events in 2025
• Denial of the Macedonian minority, nation and identity
• Hate speech
• Lack of legal protection
• Violation of the right of association: Introduction, Registration attempts, Unequal application of the law
• Harassment against Macedonian activists
• Wall of shame
• The authorities refuse dialogue
• Conclusion and recommendations

INTRODUCTION

The situation of the Macedonian minority and major events in 2025. The situation of the Macedonian minority in Bulgaria in 2025 remainedunchanged. Not a single one of the rights provided for in the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities has been granted to the Macedonian minority; the trends in this regard are negative.

In schools, children learn nothing about the Macedonian nation and minority; on the contrary, they receive information in a manner that leaves no room for the existence of the Macedonian nation and minority. The Macedonian literary language, literature and history continue not to be studied. On television and in the media, a single point of view is constantly and in various ways presented, according to which a Macedonian nation does not exist and everything Macedonian is Bulgarian, and every different opinion is "anti-Bulgarian". In historical programmes and debates, the Macedonian point of view is not represented. Macedonian self-awareness itself ("Macedonism", as it is labelled in Bulgaria) is treated as an artificial anti-Bulgarian ideology. Macedonian self-awareness in Bulgaria (but also the Macedonian nation as a whole) is treated as a product of violent communist experiment or as a result of foreign hostile propaganda. In society, intolerance towards Macedonians continues to prevail, and theyare a frequent object of hate speech, often widely circulated through the media, without sanctions from state institutions and without encountering condemnation in society.

Taking advantage of the artificially created atmosphere of intolerance, the state successfully keeps representatives of the minority out of the political and public life of the country, individuallyand collectively, by refusing registration to parties and organisations defending the rights of Macedonians.

Read the full report here.

Macedonian Human Rights Movement International (MHRMI) has been active on human and national rights issues for Macedonians and other oppressed peoples since 1986. MHRMI demands respect for Macedonia's name, identity and human rights for oppressed Macedonians in the Balkans. For more information: 1-416-850-7125, info@mhrmi.org, mhrmi.org, twitter.com/mhrmi, facebook.com/mhrmi, instagram.com/MacedonianHumanRights #OurNameIsMacedonia