“2 August is a symbol – on that day, 120 years ago, Bulgarians in Macedonia and Eastern Thrace proved that the idea of a democratic republic, in which Bulgarians, Turks, Jews will have equal rights in every respect, did not hang together with Vasil Levski,” Prime Minister Academician Nikolay Denkov said at a ceremony marking the 120^th anniversary from the Ilinden-Preobrazhenie Uprising which took place last night in front of the Monument to the Unknown Soldier in Sofia.

In his address, President Rumen Radev stated that the Ilinden-Preobrazhenie Uprising today occupies an important place in the country’s relations with the Republic of North Macedonia, and in bringing the two countries closer together on the basis of the historical truth.

• Bulgarian President congratulates his North Macedonian counterpart on the occasion of Ilinden

At the beginning of the ceremony, the Bulgarian president greeted the national guard of honour. The ceremony was attended by the President of the National Assembly Rosen Zhelyazkov, Deputy Prime Minister Mariya Gabriel, Vice President Iliana Iotova, acting Prosecutor General Borislav Sarafov, members of the clergy, cabinet ministers, MPs, representatives of the Bulgarian army.