On the occasion of the Day of the Bulgarian National Minority, March 3, the Commissioner for the Protection of Equality, Milan Antonijević, visited Bosilegrad, a municipality in eastern Serbia known for its rich culture and tradition. His presence at the celebration of this important holiday provided an opportunity to gain insight into how the community nurtures its customs and values.

During the visit, Commissioner Antonijević met with the President of the Municipality of Bosilegrad, Vladimir Zaharijev, and the President of the National Council of the Bulgarian National Minority, Stefan Stojkov. They discussed key issues of importance for local communities, including youth education, support for rural entrepreneurship, the development of tourism and local media, as well as the improvement of equality in everyday life.

Municipal President Vladimir Zaharijev emphasized that the citizens of Bosilegrad have two homelands and stressed that the rights of national minorities are respected in Serbia. Commissioner Antonijević noted that seeing young people preserving their culture and tradition gives hope that Bosilegrad has a bright future, emphasizing that equality and inclusion are essential for all.

An important part of the visit was the celebration at the “Georgi Dimitrov” Primary School, where students participated in a program and made traditional “martenica” bracelets, symbolic wristbands marking the arrival of spring and a new beginning.

This visit confirms that, although some places may be remote and off the main routes, every community is important and deserves support. Bosilegrad is an example that tradition, culture, and solidarity in smaller communities play a vital role in preserving identity and strengthening the local community.