Former Bulgarian Prime Minister: There are attempts to return North Macedonia under the influence of Russia

The former Bulgarian Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov, declared on Saturday in Sofia that certain structures are trying to bring North Macedonia back under the influence of Russia.

He did not specify who those structures are, but related such claims to the January 16 incident in Ohrid, North Macedonia, where a member of a Bulgarian club in this city was physically attacked.

"An act like the beating of a Bulgarian puts the public completely on the side of the beaten and can take us in another direction that is completely in favor of Putin and his geostrategic plans for the Balkans."

"Here I see an attempt to bring North Macedonia under Russian influence, deliberately, and this is becoming very active. Under no circumstances should you be deceived. The best thing for Bulgaria is that North Macedonia and Albania are in the European Union and NATO", said Borisov at a press conference of the BERG party.

The former Bulgarian Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov, said that he will insist that those responsible for the beating of the secretary of the Bulgarian club "Tsar Boris Treti" from Ohrid, Hristijan Pendikov, be brought to justice, as this, according to him, "undermines the great efforts we have made since North Macedonia and Albania should follow the path of the European Union".

Borisov said that North Macedonia has not included in the Constitution the important things for Bulgaria and has not protected the Bulgarians from aggression. He accused the Bulgarian government of diplomatic ignorance.

"They left important topics under the carpet that led to the escalation of relations between the two countries," he said.

The former Bulgarian prime minister says that "someone really wants Bulgaria to veto" Macedonia's European integration.

Bulgarian media reported that the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs in the Bulgarian Parliament adopted a Declaration condemning "acts of violence against Bulgarians, their clubs and organizations".

The Declaration states that "amending the Constitution is a necessity for North Macedonia to continue the process of European integration".

Më 23 janar Sofja tërhoqi ambasadorin e saj nga Shkup një shenjë pakënaqësie ndaj incidentit në Ohër.

Marrëdhëniet midis Maqedonisë dhe Bullgarisë kanë qenë të tensionuara për më shumë se dy vjet, pasi Sofja bllokoi integrimin e Maqedonisë në BE në vitin 2019 për shkak të një mosmarrëveshjeje historike, gjuhësore dhe identitare.

Bllokada u tejkalua në qershor të vitit 2022 dhe filluan negociatat e vendit me BE-në, por Bullgaria kushtëzon hapjen e kapitujve me përfshirjen e bullgarëve në Kushtetutën e Maqedonisë së Veriut, por shumica parlamentare aktualisht nuk ka shumicën e nevojshme prej dy të tretave në Kuvend.

Partitë në pushtet në Maqedoninë e Veriut po punojnë për zgjerimin e qeverisë edhe më opozitën shqiptare me synimin për rritjen e shumicës, por pa votat e deputetëve të VMRO DPMNE-së miratimi do të jetë i pamundur.

Meanwhile, the Macedonian opposition says that the changes will not be approved while repeating calls for early elections./Rel