Bulgaria violated the right to freedom of association of an ethnic Macedonian, co-founder of a non-profit human rights organization, when domestic courts rejected his application to register the association without providing a valid legal justification, the UN Human Rights Committee has concluded.
The case concerns Stojko Ivanov Stojkov and the registration of a non-profit association called the Human Rights Protection Committee “Tolerance”.
“In this specific case, the complainant filed an application to the authorities for registration of a NGO, Human Rights Protection Committee “Tolerance”, based on the Non-Profit Legal Entities Act (NPLEA). Despite having submitted all relevant documents and additional requested information on the activities of the association, he received an unreasoned decision rejecting the registration merely citing several provisions of the Act”, it is explained in the press release.
Asked to comment on the matter, PM Mickoski said the decision was unlikely to have a substantial impact on the country without stronger international pressure.