European Commission slams North Macedonia for refusing entry to Bulgarian member of European Parliament

By Ahmet Gencturk

ATHENS (AA) – The European Commission on Monday condemned Northern Macedonia’s refusal to allow entry to Andrey Kovatchev, a Bulgarian member of the European Parliament, and three people accompanying him over the weekend.

“We call on the government of North Macedonia to urgently clarify the situation. The denial of entry of a Member of the European Parliament is a very serious decision,” said European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi on Twitter.

According to the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA), North Macedonia’s border police refused entry to Kovatchev and three other people Saturday to attend the Bulgarian military cemetery’s annual memorial service to commemorate fallen Bulgarians.

Commenting on the matter later Saturday, North Macedonia’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Toni Angelovski said “the Macedonian police will not allow in the country, either now or in the future, people who are potential disruptors of the public order and peace and who insult and belittle the citizens and the state."