Law for the Protection of Macedonian National Honour

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Statute of the Court, published in the Nova Makedonija newspaper, No. 28, from 3 January 1945.

The Law for the Protection of Macedonian National Honour was a

special court for the implementation of this law, which came into effect on January 3, 1945.[1][2][3][4] This decision was taken at the second session of this assembly on 28–31 December 1944.[5]

The tribunal was to judge "the collaborators of the occupiers who have put down the Macedonian national name and the Macedonian national honour", as part of an attempt to differentiate an ethnic and political Macedonian identity separate from neighboring Bulgaria and the historical Ottoman Empire Bulgarian community, of which both had been part,[6][7] though the statute of the court does not mention Bulgaria or Bulgarians. Although some researchers believe that it continued to be in force until 1991, it is much more likely that it was abolished in February 1948.

History

Background

During the

Bulgarophile
sentiments, the new Communist authorities took heavy measures. The task was also to break up all the organisations that opposed the idea of Yugoslavia.

Purpose

The purpose of the law was to distinguish the new Macedonian nation from Bulgaria, as differentiation from Bulgarians was seen as a confirmation that Macedonians were a separate ethnic community.[

SR Serbia to the SR Macedonia,[23] which numbered per unofficial estimate at 20,000.[24]

Implementation and function

On January 3, 1945, the newspaper

Macedonian Serbs were not tried on it either, despite some of them were cooperating with the Axis Forces.[citation needed
]

Impact

The act allowed the sentencing of Yugoslav citizens from

SR Macedonia for collaboration with the occupational authorities during WWII, for pro-Bulgarian leanings and for agitating against Macedonia's position in Yugoslavia.[27][28] Bulgarian sources claim that in early 1945, around 100,000 Bulgarophiles were imprisoned and over 1,260 were allegedly killed due to the Law.[29][30] Some victims tried due to their Bulgarophile leanings were Spiro Kitinchev, Dimitar Gyuzelov and Dimitar Chkatrov.[31][32] The first president of the Anti-Fascist Assembly of the National Liberation of Macedonia, Metodija Andonov-Čento, was tried due to agitating against Macedonia's position in Yugoslavia.[33] These were highly publicized show-trials, rather than being committed to justice.[34] While occasional trials continued throughout the period the law was in force, the bulk of them took place in the late 1940s.[35]
The law influenced new generations to grow up with strong anti-Bulgarian sentiments,
state policy.[38]

Modern period

Due to the inconsistent and confusing legal regulation of that law, it is not very clear until when it was in force. Although some researchers believe that it continued to be in force until 1991, when the present North Macedonia gained independence from the former Yugoslavia,[39][40][41] according to a legal analysis of Macedonian non-governmental activists, it is much more likely that it was abolished in February 1948.[42] This people that stuck to their Bulgarian identity met great hostility among the authorities and the rest of the population. With the fall of Communism the hostility decreased, but still remains. In this way over time, a Bulgarian component to the ethnic identity of the Slavic-speaking population in Vardar Macedonia has disappeared.[43][44]

See also

References

  1. ISBN 9783034301961
    . Furthermore, between April and August of 1945, the Court for the Defence of the Macedonian National Honour was set up by Yugoslav authorities, and its targets were Macedono-Bulgarian intellectuals who openly expressed their Bulgarian identity. Writers, lawyers, journalists, doctors, teachers, priests and other prominent people received death sentences or prison terms. Mayors and other administrators during the Bulgarian regime were sentenced to death. 1,260 prominent Macedono-Bulgarians were killed by these farce processes. In 1946, Dimitar Gyuzelev, Yordan Chkartov and Dimitar Chkartov were sentenced to death, whereas seventy-four other Macedono-Bulgarian nationalists led by Angel Dimov were sentenced to jail for plotting to join Vardar Macedonia to Bulgaria.
  2. ISBN 9789989661310
    . Подоцна, Президиумот на АСНОМ формирал и Суд за судење на злосторствата против честа на македонскиот народ и за казнување лица што ја извалкале македонската национална чест за време на окупацијата. [Later, the Presidium of ASNOM established a Court to try crimes against the honor of the Macedonian people and to punish persons who tarnished the Macedonian national honor during the occupation.]
  3. ISBN 9989624763
    . Президиумот на АСНОМ со посебно решение формирал Суд за судење на престапите против македонската национална чест. [The Presidium of ASNOM with a special decision established the Court for trial of the offenses against the Macedonian national honor.]
  4. ^ Makedonski arhivist, Volumes 11-12 [Macedonian Archivist, Volumes 11-12] (in Slovenian). Društvo na arhivskite rabotnici i arhivite vo SR Makedonija. 1981. Судот за судење по престапите против македонската национална чест е формиран со решение на Президиумот на Народното собрание на Македонија (ACHOM). [The Court for Trial of Offenses against the Macedonian National Honor was established by a decision of the Presidium of the National Assembly of Macedonia (ACHOM).]
  5. ^ Гласник на Институтот за национална историја, Volume 19 [Bulletin of the Institute of National History , Volume 19] (in Slovenian). Institute of National History. 1975. p. 59. На 30 декември 1944 година со решение на Президиумот на АСНОМ се создава суд за судење на престапи извршени против македонската национална чест. [On December 30, 1944, with a decision of the Presidium of ASNOM, a court was created to try crimes committed against the Macedonian national honor.]
  6. ^ Кочанковски, Јован,Битола и Битолско во Народноослободителната и антифашистичка воjна на Македонија (1941–1945), том 2: 1944–1945 [Kochankovski, Jovan, Bitola and Bitola region in the National Liberation and anti-fascist war of Macedonia (1941–1945), Volume 2: 1944–1945]. p. 427.
  7. ISBN 3486580507
    .
  8. ISBN 0691188432
    , p. 134.
  9. ISBN 0857721216
    , p. 105.
  10. ISBN 1850656630
    , p. 119.
  11. ISBN 0191528722
    , p. 179.
  12. ISBN 113479844X
    , p. 51.
  13. ISBN 0-691-04356-6
    , pp. 65-66.
  14. ISBN 0208008217
    , Chapter 9: The encouragement of Macedonian culture.
  15. ISBN 0191528722
    , p. 206.
  16. ISBN 0820479039
    .
  17. ^ Per Stefan Troebst Macedonian national language, national literature, national history and national church were not available in 1944, but they were accomplished in a short time. The south-east-Slavic regional idiom of the area of Prilep-Veles was codified as the script, normed orthographically by means of the Cyrillic Alphabet, and taken over immediately by the newly created media. And the people have been patching up the national history ever since. Thus, they are forming more of an "ethnic" than a political concept of nation. For more, see: One Macedonia With Three Faces: Domestic Debates and Nation Concepts, in Intermarium; Columbia University; Volume 4, No. 3 (2000–2001).
  18. ISBN 0312299133
    .
  19. ISBN 1850656630
    , p. 122.
  20. ^ "Western outlands" ("Западните покрайнини" in Bulgarian) is a term used in Bulgaria for the municipalities of Dimitrovgrad and Bosilegrad in Serbia, and Strumica in Macedonia - awarded to Serbia, i.e. to the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, after World War I. For more see: Nikolai Petrović et al., Bulgarians in Serbia and Serbian-Bulgarian Relations in the Light of Serbia's European Integration. Policy Study. Belgrade, ISAC Fund, 2013. p. 6.
  21. ISBN 1538119625
    , p. 235.
  22. ISBN 9544303197
    , стр. 130.
  23. ^ Богослав Јанев, Босилегратчани во Македонија, Скопје: Здружение на граѓани. "Босилеградско", 2006, Куманово: Графотекс. ISBN 9989-57-472-3.
  24. ^ Александър Димитров, Колко са българите в РС Македония? Глас, Прес 10 март 2021 г.
  25. ISBN 9540902673, стр. 325.
  26. ISBN 954-07-1678-0
    , стр. 124.
  27. S2CID 147272841
    . Retrieved December 20, 2020. Residual Bulgarian sympathizers were persecuted under the 'law for the protection of Macedonian national honor.
  28. ^ The Law for the Protection of Macedonian National Honour was passed in 1945. The act allowed the sentencing of citizens for collaboration, pro-Bulgarian sympathies, and contesting Macedonia's status within Yugoslavia. The latter charge was used to sentence Metodij Andonov-Čento who opposed the authorities' decision to join the federation without reserving the right to a secession and criticised it for not putting enough emphasis on Macedonian culture. For more see: Communist dictatorship in Macedonia. The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (1945-1992). Communist crimes. Estonian Institute of Historical Memory.
  29. ISBN 1850655340
    , p. 118.
  30. ISBN 186064841X
    , p. 40.
  31. ^ Together with the mass murders without trial and sentences in the end of 1944 and all throughout 1945, the communist authorities organize legal processes against the leading Bulgarian intelligentsia. Among the first accused are: D. Gyuselev, doctor of philosophy from Doiran; eng. D. Tchkatrov from Prilep; eng. Spiro Kitintchev from Scopje; Dr. Robev from Bitola ... and thousands of their coactivists and followers from the whole Vardar Macedonia... Now, to the "Macedonian court" people are brought under the "Law for the Macedonian honour". Every one who considers himself Bulgarian or thinks that the history, language and the nationality of the Slavonic population in Macedonia are Bulgarian, automatically is attacked by the strict prosecution paragraphs of this anti-Bulgarian law with the accusation that he works against "the people and the state", that he is enemy of "new Yugoslavia", of the brotherhood and unity of the "Yugoslav people" and so on For more see: Гоцев, Димитър, Новата национално-освободителна борба във Вардарска Македония 1944-1991 г., София, Македонски научен институт, 1998, p. 37.
  32. ^ За да се даде някаква законна форма на жестокото гонение на българщината, бе измислен един странен Закон за съдене на престъпленията против македонската национална чест. Неговата цел бе: да накаже всички проявени българи, като ги обхване с формулата "за... по всевъзможни начини на соработуванье со окупаторот...", та по тоя начин "го извалкаа македонското национално име и македонската чест". Изразът "по всевъзможни начини на сътрудничество с окупатора" обхваща всяка проява на българско съзнание като например: а) неописуема радост при пристигането и посрещането на българските войски през май 1941 г. в Македония; б) устройване на народностни тържества по случай годишнини на заслужили за българската кауза дейци – възрожденци, революционери и др.; в) изнасяне на беседи за важни исторически събития за българския народ изобщо или за местните българи изгонване на гръцките владици, изграждане на черкви и училища и пр.; г) чествуване на заслужили живи дейци и т.н. С други думи – всичко, което обхваща проявите на национален живот на българщината в Македония. Това става още по-ясно, като се има предвид член 2 от закона, който подчертава, че по този закон ще бъдат съдени лица, чиито дела "не могат да бъдат квалифицирани като предателстно или като помагане на окупатора при вършенето на военни злодеяния". Тогава кои са тия дела на сътрудничество с "окупатора"? Само националните. За такива дела се осъждат хората до 10 години затвор, принудителна работа и конфискация на имотите. 26. Съдебни процеси срещу проявени местни дейци на българщината. Б) Първите процеси срещу най-изтъкнатите национални дейци. В глава 22 обстойно разгледахме дейността на националните сили срещу македонизма през Втората световна война. Там пролича голямото родолюбие на тия сили, начело на които стояха споменатите многократно дейци д-р Димитър Гюзелов, доктор по философия от Дойран, Димитър Чкатров от Прилеп, инженер, и видният скопски общественик и икономист Спиро Китинчев от Скопйе, женевски възпитаник. На 28 май започна и трая до 2 юни 1945 г. съдебен процес срещу тримата патриоти и техните съратници под шаблонното обвинение "соработници на окупаторот". Тъй като в гл. 19 и 22 подробно се запознахме с тяхната дейност през сюблимните дни на разгрома на кралска Югославия и през следвашите три и половина години на българското управление в Македония, тук ще отбележим само, че за цялото си народностно дело получиха смъртни присъди. И не само те. За да се получи по-пълна представа за тях като български патриоти и за мащаба на тяхното жертвоприношение пред олтара на българщината, ще дадем кратки биографичии бележки за всекиго от тях. For more see: Коста Църнушанов (1992) Македонизмът и съпротивата на Македония срещу него, София, Университетско изд-во "Св. Климент Охридски", 1992, стр. 149.
  33. ^ "Macedonia, FYR (Yugoslavia)". Macedonia, FYR (Yugoslavia) | Communist Crimes. Retrieved 2021-01-10. The Law for the Protection of Macedonian National Honour was passed in 1945. The act allowed the sentencing of citizens for collaboration, pro-Bulgarian sympathies, and contesting Macedonia's status within Yugoslavia. The latter charge was used to sentence Metodij Andonov-Čento who opposed the authorities' decision to join the federation without reserving the right to a secession and criticised it for not putting enough emphasis on Macedonian culture. For more see: Communist dictatorship in Macedonia. The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (1945-1992).
  34. ISBN 0191528722
    , p. 202.
  35. ISBN 1850656630
    , p. 122.
  36. ISBN 0208008217
    , Chapter 9: The encouragement of Macedonian culture.
  37. ISBN 1351863428
    , p. 490.
  38. ^ In Macedonia, post-WWII generations grew up "overdosed" with strong anti-Bulgarian sentiment, leading to the creation of mainly negative stereotypes for Bulgaria and its nation. The anti-Bulgariansim (or Bulgarophobia) increased almost to the level of state ideology during the ideological monopoly of the League of Communists of Macedonia, and still continues to do so today, although with less ferocity... However, it is more important to say openly that a great deal of these anti-Bulgarian sentiments result from the need to distinguish between the Bulgarian and the Macedonian nations. Macedonia could confirm itself as a state with its own past, present and future only through differentiating itself from Bulgaria. For more see: Mirjana Maleska. With the eyes of the "other" (about Macedonian-Bulgarian relations and the Macedonian national identity). In New Balkan Politics, Issue 6, pp. 9–11. Peace and Democracy Center: "Ian Collins", Skopje, Macedonia, 2003. ISSN 1409-9454.
  39. ISBN 5020098647
    , стр. 492.
  40. ^ Вардарска Македония влиза в състава на Федеративната народна република Югославия като отделна единица под името Народна (по-късно Социалистическа) република Македония. Там с пълна сила се развихря македонизмът, въздигнат от верните на Тито скопски сърбокомунисти до ранга на държавна доктрина. Веднага след създаване на НР Македония там започват небивали репресии срещу всичко българско и срещу всички лица с българско национално самосъзнание. Те са натиквани в затвори и концентрационни лагери и са избивани без съд и присъда. Чак до началото на 90-те години там действа т.нар Закон за македонската национална чест, предвиждащ затвор за всеки, който се осмелява да се чувства българин. For more see: Антони Гиза, Балканските държави и македонския въпрос, Македонски научен институт, превод от полски - Димитър Димитров, София, 2001, стр. 129.
  41. ^ As admits Bozhidar Dimitrov, a well-known opponent of the Macedonian national identity and who is now deceased, there is no such law now. In 2009, [Bulgarian historian then Minister responsible for the Bulgarians abroad] he addressed the Committee for human rights, religions, complaints and petitions [in Bulgarian Parliament] when he filed a petition in support of the harassed Bulgarians in then Republic of Macedonia. Among other things, Bozhidar Dimitrov said the following at the Bulgarian parliament. "In Macedonia there has been (I investigated about how long it was into force – from June 1945 until 1991) a Law of Macedonian national conscience". For more see: Razvigorov claims falsely without checking first as Macedonia has no law on Macedonian national honor. 16 January 2020, Fact-checking; Meta.mk.
  42. ^ Управување со Дигиталната Безбедност и Анонимност, Жарко Ѓуров и Лилјана Ацковска. Закон за Македонската национална чест - UDBAMK: This Law is officially considered to have been valid for only 6 months from December 30, 1944 till July 1, 1945, but in fact its official legal significance in the legislative sense is that it was in force until a decision for its abolition was not published in the Official Gazette no.3. in February 1948. In fact, this official newspaper specifically states that a "Law confirming the decisions and laws adopted before November 4, 1946" is being passed. That in fact means that the abolition of the "Decision to establish a court to try the crimes committed against the Macedonian national honor", although adopted on July 1, 1945, did not enter into force until February 3, 1948.
  43. ISBN 1403997209
    , p. 89.
  44. ISBN 978-0-333-92066-4
    , p. 51.
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