# Bulgaria-North Macedonia diplomatic tensions

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/bulgaria-north-macedonia-diplomatic-tensions
> Updated: 2026-09-07T06:43:54.000Z. Sources: 18. Developments: 2.

Bulgarian President Ilijana Jotova has pledged to protect the rights of the Bulgarian community in North Macedonia. During a commemoration of the Ilinden-Preobrazhenie Uprising, Jotova emphasized a shared history between the two nations and called for the rejection of hate speech.

Her remarks have led to friction with the Socialist Party of Macedonia (SPM), which rejected claims of a ‘shared history’ and asserted that North Macedonia maintains its own distinct cultural and historical continuity. Additionally, Jotova raised concerns regarding the treatment of Bulgarian citizens, specifically citing the case of Iva Mihajlova, whose Bulgarian passport was reportedly revoked by Macedonian authorities. Jotova indicated she would bring this matter to the Council of Europe.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-07: Iliana Jotova commemorates Dobrudja's history and the Craiova Agreement

Bulgarian President Iliana Jotova commemorated the anniversaries of the Dobrudja epic and the Craiova Agreement, highlighting the region's historical role in Bulgarian unity and its ties with Romania.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/iliana-jotova-commemorates-dobrudjas-history-and-the-craiova-agreement

### 2026-08-22: Bulgaria's President Jotova pledges to protect Bulgarian rights in North Macedonia

Bulgarian President Ilijana Jotova reaffirmed Bulgaria's commitment to protecting the rights of Bulgarians in North Macedonia, sparking renewed debate over shared history and minority rights.

17 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bulgarias-iliana-jotova-pledges-to-protect-bulgarian-rights-in-north-macedonia

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Cite as: Bulgaria-North Macedonia diplomatic tensions. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/bulgaria-north-macedonia-diplomatic-tensions