Accessibility links

Breaking News

Bulgarian MEP Denied Entry At Border To North Macedonia Over Threat To 'Public Order'


Bulgarian Member of the European Parliament Andrey Kovachev (file photo)
Bulgarian Member of the European Parliament Andrey Kovachev (file photo)

North Macedonia's Interior Ministry said on May 7 that it prevented a Bulgarian member of the European Parliament and four others from entering the country a day earlier because they were "potential violators of public order," as relations between the Balkan neighbors continue to simmer over national and historical differences. MEP Andrey Kovachev was en route to an event in eastern North Macedonia to honor Bulgarians who died during the Balkan Wars early last century. Bulgaria quickly expressed its "strong disappointment" at the snub. Kovachev has stirred the pot before on Sofia-Skopje and other regional relations. To see the original story by RFE/RL's Bulgarian Service, click here.

  • 16x9 Image

    RFE/RL's Bulgarian Service

    RFE/RL’s Bulgarian Service relaunched in 2019 after a 15-year absence, providing independent news and original analysis to help strengthen a media landscape weakened by the monopolization of ownership and corruption.

RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.

If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.

To find out more, click here.

XS
SM
MD
LG