The European Free Alliance (EFA) reaffirms its unwavering support for the Macedonian minority in Bulgaria following a powerful and dignified gathering in the town of Melnik. On 26 April 2026, hundreds of Macedonians gathered to honor the 111th anniversary of the murder of the great revolutionary Jane Sandanski, issuing a defiant vow to continue their fight for the fundamental rights of which they are currently deprived.
The atmosphere in Melnik was filled with “new, fresh energy” as the sounds of the famous song resonated through the old town: “An old cradle, one mother gave birth to us all, from Vardar, Pirin all the way to Thessaloniki, her name is Macedonia… let’s all dance a single Macedonian dance.” This traditional gathering, which brought together grandfathers with their grandchildren, young couples, and guests from the Vardar and Aegean parts of Macedonia, served as a “holiday of Macedonian unity.” The commemoration honored the legacy of the Macedonian “King of Pirin,” Jane Sandanski, who was murdered on 22nd April 1915, at the Rozhen Monastery. The day began with a solemn laying of flowers at his grave, followed by a public gathering and wreath-laying at his monument in Melnik.
The EFA highlights the remarkable cooperation of the numerous Macedonian organisations that organised this event in the face of systemic non-recognition by Bulgarian authorities: OMO “Ilinden – Pirin” and OMO “Ilinden”, Macedonian Human Rights Movement International, “Ancient Macedonians”, Society of Repressed Macedonians in Bulgaria, Macedonian Cultural Club “Nikola Vapcarov”, Society for the Protection of Fundamental Human Rights, Macedonian Discussion Club for Ethnic Tolerance, Human Rights Protection Committee “Tolerance”. While the gathering was secured by reinforced forces of the Bulgarian police, the Macedonian community remained peaceful and persistent in their message.
The Fight for Basic Existence
Stojko Stojkov, co-chairman of OMO “Ilinden – Pirin”, delivered a stirring address that stresses the gravity of the situation. “We are fighting for the most basic human rights, for recognition of our existence, for the right to have organisations, to be equal citizens of the state in which we live and pay taxes, to be who we are and who our ancestors were—Macedonians“, he said.
The European Free Alliance stands with Mr. Stojkov and the Macedonian minority in Pirin in their call to end the policy of denial, assimilation, and discrimination. It is a high duty not only for Macedonians but for every citizen who values democracy.
Pressure on Sofia to Comply with International Law
This 111th-anniversary celebration comes at a time of intensifying international pressure. The United Nations Human Rights Committee recently found that Bulgaria violated the right to freedom of association, and Sofia continues to ignore 14 judgments from the European Court of Human Rights.
The EFA calls on the European institutions to move beyond rhetoric and take “strong, robust action” to ensure the Macedonian community’s human rights are guaranteed.