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European Court of Human Rights

Case of Stankov and the United Macedonian Organization Ilinden v. Bulgaria

application numbers 29225/95 & 29221/95

Summary

The United Macedonian Organization Ilinden was founded in 1990 to unite Macedonians in Bulgaria on a regional and cultural basis and to achieve recognition of the Macedonian minority in Bulgaria. In 1991 the association was refused registration as the courts found that its aims were in reality directed against the unity of the nation, that it advocated ethnic hatred and was dangerous for the territorial integrity of Bulgaria.

The United Macedonian Organization Ilinden then brought the case to the European Court of Human Rights arguing that their right to freedom of assembly guaranteed under Article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights had been violated.

In sum, the Court found that, as there was no real, foreseeable risk of violent action, of incitement to violence or of a rejection of democratic principles, the bans on the applicants meetings were not justified under paragraph 2 of Article 11.