Another attempt to legalize Macedonian organizations has hit a snag in the District Court – Blagoevgrad. The refusal of the Registry Agency to register the Macedonian Club for Ethnic Tolerance, established two months ago in Blagoevgrad, was confirmed by a decision of Judge Emilia Doncheva. The new association was born at a meeting held on December 3, 2024, at which a statute was adopted and a management board was elected, writes struma.bg.
After 10 days, the club chairman submitted an application for registration with the Registry Agency with the accompanying mandatory documents, but was subsequently refused by the official due to irregularities. The statute did not meet the requirements, as it did not contain clear rules regarding the establishment and termination of membership. The refusal decision of December 16, 2024 was challenged in the District Court. The complaint states that for its registration the association used the statute and founding protocol of the already registered “Boxing Club – Nibo“, only the goals and means for achieving them were changed.
The refusal was actually due to the Macedonian self-awareness and self-determination of the founders, thus preventing their right to association, and violating Art. 11, para. 1 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, the complainant believes. During the official inspection of the documents, Judge Emilia Doncheva believes that they do not actually meet the legal requirements. The founding protocol does not indicate the time of the meeting, there are ambiguities in the statute regarding the admission and dismissal of members, as well as other contradictions. According to the judge, the arguments that the association used the statute and founding protocol of an already registered boxing club for its registration are unfounded. For these reasons, the refusal to register the Macedonian club by the Registry Agency is confirmed. The decision is subject to appeal before the Court of Appeals - Sofia.
As “Struma” wrote, last year in the District Court - Blagoevgrad several attempts were made to legalize Macedonian associations, but all were cut. The Chairman of the District Court - Blagoevgrad Petar Uzunov confirmed the refusal to register the association “United Macedonian Organization“ – Ilinden, which had held a constituent assembly in Sandanski on January 20, 2024, on the grounds that the requested registration was unlawful due to numerous and various material violations of the law.
Judge Nadya Uzunova also confirmed the Registry Agency's refusal to register the association "Society of Repressed Macedonians in Bulgaria, Victims of Communist Terror" on the grounds that the activity specified in its statute is directed against the unity of the Bulgarian nation, which is prohibited in Art. 44, para. 2 of the Constitution of the Republic of Bulgaria.