9.06.08 - 22:15 Question to the Committee of Ministers



European Parliament
Written Question No. 547 by Mr Cilevics: "Implementation of the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights on the right to association for national minorities in Bulgaria"

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In its judgment in the case of UMO Ilinden - PIRIN and others v. Bulgaria (59489/00) of 20 October 2005 (final on 20 January 2006), the European Court of Human Rights found a violation of Article 11 of the Convention in respect of a political party whose stated aims included, inter alia, the recognition of the Macedonian minority in Bulgaria.

In document CM/Inf/DH(2007)8, the Committee of Ministers stated that where the Court has found violations of the right to freedom of association on account of dissolutions, or refusals of registration, of organisations and political parties, the Committee of Ministers has, in application of this principle, seen to it that the respondent state has removed laws or practices incriminated by the Court and offered the applicants the possibility to have their organisation registered anew in proceedings respecting the Convention.

However, following the 2005 judgment, UMO Ilinden - PIRIN has twice, in vain, sought re-registration and continues to remain unregistered.

Given that the diligent and timely execution of judgments of the European Court of Human Rights is an issue of fundamental importance for the Parliamentary Assembly,
Mr Cilevics,
to ask the Committee of Ministers,
what the Committee of Ministers intends to undertake in order to facilitate execution of the above-mentioned judgment by the authorities of Bulgaria, so as to ensure the effectiveness of the Council of Europe system for the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms?

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Source: https://wcd.coe.int/ViewDoc.jsp?id=1297009
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9.06.08 - 19:30 The European Commission presses the Bulgarian government

Amnesty International:



Amnesty International The newest report of the Amnesty International mentions the Macedonian Minority's struggle in Bulgaria. The report states that in September, the European Commission called on the Bulgarian government to respect the decisions by the European Court of Human Rights that Bulgaria should allow the registration of the OMO Ilinden PIRIN party, which represents the Macedonian minority in Bulgaria. Both the Supreme Court and the Sofia City Court had denied the party’s application for registration.
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