MEPs claim hate speech against Bulgarian minority in Serbia
Bulgarian MEPs sent a letter to European institutions warning of a hate campaign against the ethnic Bulgarian community in Serbia.
The MEPS said the letter is to inform institutions about what they claim is the systematic trampling of the rights of ethnic minorities in Serbia”. The letter warned of “continuous hate speech against the Bulgarian minority, in the media, in the scientific and historical circles, as well as in the statements of politicians, with which the image of Bulgaria and the Bulgarians as dangerous enemies is systematically developed in the Serbian society”.
It accused the Serbian Orthodox Church of playing “a serious role in creating anti-Bulgarian sentiments …together with scientific-historical, state and military bodies, as well as cultural institutions”. The MEPs cited the memorial in the town of Surdulica for WW I victims of Bulgarian forces as an example of hatred towards Bulgarians and claimed that school children took part in essay contests on the topic of Bulgarian war-time atrocities.
The letter said that mining companies with Russian capital caused serious pollution in the Bosilegrad area along the Serbia-Bulgaria border which has a large ethnic Bulgarian population.
The MEPs listed what they called anti-Bulgarian events and pressure against cultural-educational, political and environmental protection organisations and activitists, including an exhibit titled Bulgarian atrocities in occupied Serbia 1915-1918 and refusing entry into Serbia for Bulgarian nationals organizing exhibitions and book promotions as well as statements by senior Serbian state officials. The letter said that baseless criminal charges were filed against environmental activists in Bosilegrad.
“We appeal to the European institutions with a request to intercede with the Serbian authorities for unconditional respect for the rights of the Bulgarian minority, to take urgent actions to improve the economy, road infrastructure, healthcare and the environment,” it said and added that creating hatred against Bulgaria “and therefore against the EU” in Serbia benefits the Kremlin.