North Macedonia has demanded an explanation and apology from Bulgaria after a document presented as a diplomatic note from Skopje's embassy in Sofia was publicly circulated online. Foreign Minister Timco Mucunski announced that the Bulgarian ambassador had been summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, describing the disclosure as “an absolutely unacceptable way of communication between two countries.” He argued that the publication exposed sensitive information concerning Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski’s wife and minor son, who traveled to the Bulgarian resort of Pamporovo earlier this year.
According to Mucunski, the leaked document allegedly contained details about the family's border crossing, requests for a transport corridor and possible police escort, as well as information related to their security team, including the names of officers, vehicles, communication equipment, and weapons. He said Skopje had sought additional information and had also discussed the issue with strategic partners because of concerns over how such data became public.
The minister noted that North Macedonian authorities had reacted quickly when Bulgarian diplomatic vehicles were set on fire outside Bulgaria’s embassy in Skopje last week, maintaining immediate communication with Bulgarian officials. While he stopped short of directly accusing any institution of leaking the document, Mucunski stated that if a similar disclosure involving the family of a foreign official had originated from North Macedonia’s Foreign Ministry, “I would apologize.”
