A number of Bulgarian citizens cast their ballots at polling stations in the cities of Skopje, Bitola, Prilep, Ohrid, Kavadarci, Kochani and Strumica in the Republic of North Macedonia.
“The first and most important thing to note is that the elections are proceeding smoothly, with no incidents or misunderstandings at the polling stations”, Vladimir Perev, a senior Bulgarian journalist in North Macedonia and a leading figure in the Bulgarian community in Skopje, told Radio Bulgaria.
Vladimir Perev
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''91-year-old Angel Kortelov was among the first to cast his ballot in Ohrid. What I’ve noticed in recent years is that the Bulgarian community in North Macedonia has not been sufficiently engaged in promoting the elections. There is no real campaign to encourage enough people to vote. Much of this responsibility has been left to information coming from Sofia, including reports by journalists and newspapers. But the elections need to be promoted more widely in the media. People need to be reminded why it is important to go out and vote, and something needs to be done to make that happen.”
91-year-old Angel Kurtelov from Ohrid votes in Bulgaria’s presidential election
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According to 81-year-old Perev, who was attacked in a shop in Skopje this year because of the articles he writes for the Tribuna website, the immense pressure in North Macedonia is making people afraid to go to the polls.
“We must say that we are here, that we are not afraid, and that we have obtained Bulgarian passports. Some have left the country, but they are afraid to vote in the UK or Germany. They are even afraid of being seen going to the Bulgarian embassies there. We need to do something. I don’t know what that should be at this point, but I know that something has to be done”, says the elderly ethnic Bulgarian from North Macedonia.
Voting at the Bulgarian Embassy in Skopje
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Vladimir Perev is adamant that ties between Bulgaria and the EU are crucial to improving the situation of the Bulgarian community in North Macedonia.
“Over the past five or six years, Bulgarian policy towards Macedonian Bulgarians has changed considerably for the better. We expect the new president, whoever takes office, first and foremost to strengthen ties with the EU - politically, economically, financially and, above all, militarily. Because the war is close by. The struggle for the rights of Macedonian Bulgarians, and success in that struggle, also depend on how relations between Bulgarian policymakers and EU institutions develop. Here, we expect the future Bulgarian head of state to step up efforts to protect Macedonian Bulgarians, help them open up to the world and overcome their fear. We also expect a clear message to North Macedonia’s leadership that violations of the human rights of Bulgarians in North Macedonia will no longer be tolerated”, Vladimir Perev says.
Translated by Kostadin Atanasov