A Bulgarian cultural center named after Nazi and fascist associate Vancho Mihajlov, which was recently opened, was set on fire in Bitola.
The center, which opened with dissatisfaction and outrage from Macedonian politicians and citizens, was set on fire in the early hours of the morning.
The front door and the inscription that said “Vancho Mihajlov Club” were set on fire, the perpetrators are unknown, and the police started an investigation early this morning, which is still ongoing.
The burning of the Bulgarian club in Bitola was immediately condemned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Northern Macedonia, assessing that “the vandal attack is another proof that there are many actors who are against the progress in the relations between Skopje and Sofia and the common European future.”
“This crime was not committed by chance today, when the two countries will establish a dialogue in order to overcome open issues on the path to European integration of Northern Macedonia,” the statement said, adding that the authorities “are making efforts to find the perpetrator of this act of vandalism.”
A delegation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria, led by Minister Teodora Gencovska, is paying a working visit to Northern Macedonia today and tomorrow, at the invitation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Northern Macedonia, Bujar Osmani.
The meeting comes just before the June European Council, and the statement said the Bulgarian foreign minister was coming to Skopje for “dialogue between the two ministries to resolve open bilateral issues in accordance with the Agreement on Friendship, Good Neighborliness and Cooperation and European Integration of Northern Macedonia”.
The opening of the Cultural Center of Macedonian Bulgarians “Vancho Mihajlov” in April was attended by the political leadership of Bulgaria, led by the Prime Minister and Vice President of the state. The club was opened with strong police security.
The Bulgarian Cultural Center in Bitola was opened by the non-governmental organization of Bulgarians in Northern Macedonia “Vancho Mihajov”, which was registered in 2019.
The opening of the center provoked sharp reactions from Macedonian citizens and historians.
The Prime Minister of Northern Macedonia, Dimitar Kovacevski, assessed the naming of the Bulgarian club after Mihajlov as “a first-rate campaign that does not go in the direction of improving relations” between Skopje and Sofia and the successful resolution of disputed issues.
Kovacevski said at the time that for him and for the vast majority of his country’s citizens, Vanco Mihajlov’s character, linked to direct co-operation with the Nazi and fascist regimes, was a very negative character, doing great damage to the Macedonian people.
Ivan Mahajlov Vančo was one of the leaders of the revolutionary organization VMRO between the two world wars, which was known for numerous mutual clashes and assassinations. He was an associate of the German Nazis and Croatian Ustashas, and he participated in the organization of the assassination of the Yugoslav King Alexander Karadjordjevic in Marseilles in 1934.
Vice President of Bulgaria: The burning of the Vancho Mihajlov Club in Bitola is part of a mass anti-Bulgarian campaign
Bulgarian Vice President Iliana Iotova said today that the burning of the Vancho Mihajlov Cultural Center in Bitola was “another provocation and part of a mass anti-Bulgarian campaign, which began immediately after the club’s opening.” According to Iotova, at the opening of that club a month ago, which was attended by a large Bulgarian delegation, it was said that its only function was to preserve Bulgarian culture and the identity of Bulgarians in northern Macedonia.
“Only quick actions of the competent institutions in the shortest possible time to identify the perpetrators will prove that our western neighbor respects the rights of Bulgarians, but also of all other nationalities,” Iotova wrote on Facebook, as reported by the Macedonian media.
The Bulgarian cultural center, named after Nazi and fascist associate Vancho Mihajlov, whose opening caused dissatisfaction and sharp outrage among Macedonian politicians and citizens, was set on fire today in the early hours of the morning.
The front door and the inscription that said “Vancho Mihajlov Club” were set on fire, the perpetrators are not known, and the police made an investigation.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Northern Macedonia and the head of state Stevo Pendarovski were the first to condemn the burning of that club.
“I strongly condemn the burning of the cultural center of the Bulgarian community in Bitola. Such acts are a provocation and do not help improve relations with Bulgaria. I call on the competent institutions to conduct a swift and detailed investigation, take all necessary measures, identify and sanction the perpetrators.” wrote Pendarovski on Facebook.
The opening of the Cultural Center of Macedonian Bulgarians “Vancho Mihajlov” in mid-April was attended by the political leadership of Bulgaria, led by Prime Minister Kiril Petkov and Vice President Ilian Jotev. The club was opened with strong police security.
The Bulgarian Cultural Center in Bitola was opened by the non-governmental organization of Bulgarians in Northern Macedonia “Vancho Mihajov”, which was registered in 2019.
The Prime Minister of Northern Macedonia, Dimitar Kovacevski, assessed the naming of the Bulgarian club after Mihajlov as “a first-rate campaign that does not go in the direction of improving relations” between Skopje and Sofia and the successful resolution of disputed issues.
As Kovacevski pointed out at the time, for him and for the vast majority of his country’s citizens, Vanco Mihajlov’s character is linked to direct cooperation with the Nazi and fascist regimes, a very negative character who has done great damage to the Macedonian people.
Ivan Mahajlov Vančo was one of the leaders of the revolutionary organization VMRO between the two world wars, which was known for numerous mutual clashes and assassinations. He was an associate of the German Nazis and Croatian Ustashas, and participated in the organization of the assassination of the Yugoslav King Alexander Karadjordjevic in Marseilles in 1934.