Refusal to register Macedonian association

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United Macedonian Organisation Ilinden and Others group v Bulgaria (Appl. No. 59491/00)

Briefed on September 15, 2023 and May 2017

Krassimir Kanev briefing about the case

Documents from the September 2023 briefing

Documents from the May 2017 briefing

  • Memo by Krassimir Kanev, Chairperson of the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee

  • Case summary by the Council of Europe's Department for the Execution of Judgments

The cases concern the unjustified refusals of the courts to register an association aiming at achieving "the recognition of the Macedonian minority in Bulgaria". The refusals were based on considerations of national security, protection of public order and the rights of others and on the constitutional prohibition on associations pursuing political goals, which the European Court of Human Rights found in violation of Article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights. To date, no Macedonian group has been registered by the Bulgarian courts under the existing procedure despite numerous attempts by several organisations, including the UMO Ilinden. 

The assessment of the latest domestic developments was provided by Krassimir Kanev, Chairperson of the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee (BHC).