mkd-2001!1!004, 2001, codices association of bulgarians in macedonia

7/27/2019 MKD-2001!1!004, 2001, CODICES Association of Bulgarians in Macedonia

1/3

MKD-2001-1-004

a)"The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" / b)ConstitutionalCourt/ c) / d)21-03-2001 / e)U.br.168/2000; U.br.169/2000 / f) / g)

Sluzben vesnik na Republika Makedonija(Official Gazette), 27/2001 / h)CODICES (Macedonian).

Keywords of the Systematic Thesaurus:

3.1 General Principles - Sovereignty.3.18 General Principles - General interest.

5.1.4 Fundamental Rights - General questions - Limits andrestrictions.5.3.27 Fundamental Rights - Civil and political rights - Freedom of

association.

5.5.4 Fundamental Rights - Collective rights - Right to self-determination.

Keywords of the alphabetical index:

Order, constitutional, destruction/ Hatred, incitement.

Headnotes:

Citizens are free to establish associations of citizens and political partiesand to join and leave them. The programme and activities of associations

may not be directed towards violent destruction of the constitutionalorder of the Republic or at the encouragement or incitement of nationalor racial hatred or intolerance.

Summary:

Three attorneys from Skopje lodged a petition with the Court challengingthe constitutionality of the Programme and Statutes of Radko, anassociation of citizens seated in Ohrid ("the association").

The petitioners grounded their allegations of unconstitutionality of the
http://www.codices.coe.int/NXT/gateway.dll/CODICES/precis/eng/eur/mkd/mkd-2001-1-004?f=xhitlist&xhitlist_x=Advanced&xhitlist_q=%5BField%20E_Alphabetical%20Index%3A%22Order,%20constitutional%22%5D&xhitlist_d=%7BCODICESid%7D&xhitlist_xsl=xhitlist.xsl&xhitlist_sel=title;path;content-type;home-title;item-bookmark&xhitlist_vpc=first&global=hitdoc_g_&hitlist_g_hitindex=http://www.codices.coe.int/NXT/gateway.dll/CODICES/precis/eng/eur/mkd/mkd-2001-1-004?f=xhitlist&xhitlist_x=Advanced&xhitlist_q=%5BField%20E_Alphabetical%20Index%3A%22Order,%20constitutional%20,%20destruction%22%5D&xhitlist_d=%7BCODICESid%7D&xhitlist_xsl=xhitlist.xsl&xhitlist_sel=title;path;content-type;home-title;item-bookmark&xhitlist_vpc=first&global=hitdoc_g_&hitlist_g_hitindex=http://www.codices.coe.int/NXT/gateway.dll?f=id$id=CODICESid%3Ar%3A3e48$cid=CODICESid$t=document-frame.htm$an=JD_Eth21_05.03.27$3.0#JD_Eth21_05.03.27http://www.codices.coe.int/NXT/gateway.dll?f=id$id=CODICESid%3Ar%3A3e48$cid=CODICESid$t=document-frame.htm$an=JD_Eth21_03.18$3.0#JD_Eth21_03.18http://www.codices.coe.int/NXT/gateway.dll?f=id$id=CODICESid%3Ar%3A146098$cid=CODICESid$t=document-frame.htm$an=JD_Full_MKD_MKD-2001-1-004$3.0#JD_Full_MKD_MKD-2001-1-004http://www.codices.coe.int/NXT/gateway.dll?f=id$id=CODICESid%3Ar%3A269b41$cid=CODICESid$t=document-frame.htm$an=JD_desc_ENGMKD$3.0#JD_desc_ENGMKDhttp://www.codices.coe.int/NXT/gateway.dll/CODICES/precis/eng/eur/mkd/mkd-2001-1-004?f=xhitlist&xhitlist_x=Advanced&xhitlist_q=%5BField%20E_Alphabetical%20Index%3A%22Hatred,%20incitement%22%5D&xhitlist_d=%7BCODICESid%7D&xhitlist_xsl=xhitlist.xsl&xhitlist_sel=title;path;content-type;home-title;item-bookmark&xhitlist_vpc=first&global=hitdoc_g_&hitlist_g_hitindex=http://www.codices.coe.int/NXT/gateway.dll/CODICES/precis/eng/eur/mkd/mkd-2001-1-004?f=xhitlist&xhitlist_x=Advanced&xhitlist_q=%5BField%20E_Alphabetical%20Index%3A%22Hatred%22%5D&xhitlist_d=%7BCODICESid%7D&xhitlist_xsl=xhitlist.xsl&xhitlist_sel=title;path;content-type;home-title;item-bookmark&xhitlist_vpc=first&global=hitdoc_g_&hitlist_g_hitindex=http://www.codices.coe.int/NXT/gateway.dll/CODICES/precis/eng/eur/mkd/mkd-2001-1-004?f=xhitlist&xhitlist_x=Advanced&xhitlist_q=%5BField%20E_Alphabetical%20Index%3A%22Order,%20constitutional%20,%20destruction%22%5D&xhitlist_d=%7BCODICESid%7D&xhitlist_xsl=xhitlist.xsl&xhitlist_sel=title;path;content-type;home-title;item-bookmark&xhitlist_vpc=first&global=hitdoc_g_&hitlist_g_hitindex=http://www.codices.coe.int/NXT/gateway.dll/CODICES/precis/eng/eur/mkd/mkd-2001-1-004?f=xhitlist&xhitlist_x=Advanced&xhitlist_q=%5BField%20E_Alphabetical%20Index%3A%22Order,%20constitutional%22%5D&xhitlist_d=%7BCODICESid%7D&xhitlist_xsl=xhitlist.xsl&xhitlist_sel=title;path;content-type;home-title;item-bookmark&xhitlist_vpc=first&global=hitdoc_g_&hitlist_g_hitindex=http://www.codices.coe.int/NXT/gateway.dll/CODICES/precis/eng/eur/mkd/mkd-2001-1-004?f=xhitlist&xhitlist_x=Advanced&xhitlist_q=%5BField%20E_Alphabetical%20Index%3A%22Order%22%5D&xhitlist_d=%7BCODICESid%7D&xhitlist_xsl=xhitlist.xsl&xhitlist_sel=title;path;content-type;home-title;item-bookmark&xhitlist_vpc=first&global=hitdoc_g_&hitlist_g_hitindex=http://www.codices.coe.int/NXT/gateway.dll?f=id$id=CODICESid%3Ar%3A3e48$cid=CODICESid$t=document-frame.htm$an=JD_Eth21_05.05.04$3.0#JD_Eth21_05.05.04http://www.codices.coe.int/NXT/gateway.dll?f=id$id=CODICESid%3Ar%3A3e48$cid=CODICESid$t=document-frame.htm$an=JD_Eth21_05.03.27$3.0#JD_Eth21_05.03.27http://www.codices.coe.int/NXT/gateway.dll?f=id$id=CODICESid%3Ar%3A3e48$cid=CODICESid$t=document-frame.htm$an=JD_Eth21_05.01.04$3.0#JD_Eth21_05.01.04http://www.codices.coe.int/NXT/gateway.dll?f=id$id=CODICESid%3Ar%3A3e48$cid=CODICESid$t=document-frame.htm$an=JD_Eth21_03.18$3.0#JD_Eth21_03.18http://www.codices.coe.int/NXT/gateway.dll?f=id$id=CODICESid%3Ar%3A3e48$cid=CODICESid$t=document-frame.htm$an=JD_Eth21_03.01$3.0#JD_Eth21_03.01http://www.codices.coe.int/NXT/gateway.dll?f=id$id=CODICESid%3Ar%3A146098$cid=CODICESid$t=document-frame.htm$an=JD_Full_MKD_MKD-2001-1-004$3.0#JD_Full_MKD_MKD-2001-1-004http://www.codices.coe.int/NXT/gateway.dll?f=id$id=CODICESid%3Ar%3A269b41$cid=CODICESid$t=document-frame.htm$an=JD_desc_ENGMKD$3.0#JD_desc_ENGMKD


2/3

acts at stake on several points: the programme of the association wasdirected towards the violent destruction of the constitutional order; theyblocked the free expression of the national affiliation of the Macedonianpeople, i.e. they denied its self-existence; and they incited ethnic hatredor intolerance.

When reviewing the constitutionality of the disputed acts, the Court tookinto consideration not only the association's objectives that have directlyand explicitly called for the violent destruction of the constitutional orderand incited ethnic hatred or intolerance, but also those activities whichobjectively led towards what the Constitution does not allow.

The association's literature stated that the association is named after the

nickname of Ivan Mihajlov-Radko, under whose leadership theMacedonian liberation movement had grown up. The associationglorified the work of Ivan Mihajlov-Radko, as the moral and intellectualpillar of the revolutionary and cultural struggle of Bulgarians fromMacedonia. His heritage provided future heirs with evidence of thecultural and revolutionary struggle of Bulgarians from Macedonia, theyclaimed.

Thus, the following were indicated as the association's objectives:

-the affirmation of the cultural and historical identity of the Slavs fromMacedonia, that were known as Bulgarians throughout centuries;

-the restoration of traditional ethics and human values; and

-the affirmation of the Macedonian liberation movement.

The acts in question have also indicated the ways in which theseobjectives could have been enforced, which were basically cultural formsof activity: the publication of books, a newspaper and electronic media,the organisation of seminars, conferences and workshops etc.

The Court considered constitutional provisions related to the freedom ofassociation. According to Article 20 of the Constitution, citizens areguaranteed freedom of association in order to exercise and safeguard
http://www.codices.coe.int/NXT/gateway.dll?f=id$id=CODICESid%3Ar%3A2745a9$cid=CODICESid$t=document-frame.htm$an=JD_const-eng-mkd-a-020$3.0#JD_const-eng-mkd-a-020http://www.codices.coe.int/NXT/gateway.dll?f=id$id=CODICESid%3Ar%3A2745a9$cid=CODICESid$t=document-frame.htm$an=JD_const-eng-mkd-a-020$3.0#JD_const-eng-mkd-a-020


3/3

their political, economic, social, cultural and other rights andconvictions. The establishment of, as well as the freedom to join orresign from associations of citizens and political parties is free.Nevertheless, Article 20.3 of the Constitutioncomprises imperativeprovisions according to which the programmes and activities ofassociations of citizens may not be directed towards the violentdestruction of the constitutional order or at the encouragement orincitement of ethnic or racial hatred or intolerance.

In the Court's opinion, citizens' freedom and the right to assemble act is afundamental value for the existence and development of democraticrelations in exercising power, which has the citizens, their freedoms andinterests at its core. However the stated objectives of the Association

enshrined in its programme and statute have the effect of limiting theirfreedom of association.

In this respect, the Court has the effect of taken into consideration thePreamble of the Constitution, provided that each activity denying theself-determination of the Macedonian people is in fact directed towardsviolent destruction of the constitutional order, or at the encouragement or

incitement of ethnic or racial hatred or intolerance and towards negatingfree expression of national affiliation.

The association was declared to be unconstitutional by the Court.

Languages:

Macedonian.
http://www.codices.coe.int/NXT/gateway.dll?f=id$id=CODICESid%3Ar%3A3592$cid=CODICESid$t=document-frame.htm$an=JD_F_MKD-2001-1-004$3.0#JD_F_MKD-2001-1-004http://www.codices.coe.int/NXT/gateway.dll?f=id$id=CODICESid%3Ar%3A2745a9$cid=CODICESid$t=document-frame.htm$an=JD_const-eng-mkd-a-020$3.0#JD_const-eng-mkd-a-020http://www.codices.coe.int/NXT/gateway.dll?f=id$id=CODICESid%3Ar%3A2745a9$cid=CODICESid$t=document-frame.htm$an=JD_const-eng-mkd-a-020$3.0#JD_const-eng-mkd-a-020

mkd-2001!1!004, 2001, codices association of bulgarians in macedonia

Documents