Skopje, 5 August 2022 (MIA) - The Commission for Prevention and Protection from Discrimination views the presence of the Bulgarian consul, Dimitar Ivanov, during the body's fact-finding visit to the Ivan Mihajlov Culture Center in Bitola as an attempt to influence its work. The anti-discrimination commission paid an announced fact-finding visit yesterday to the culture center in Bitola after a discrimination complaint was filed by a citizens' organization against the Ivan Mihajlov Center. "During the visit, against current practices, it was concluded that in addition to association's officials, the general consul of Bulgaria, Mr Dimitar Ivanov was also present. The Commission views his presence during its legal fact-finding visit as an attempt to influence the work of this independent body for equality and to use the Commission for political goals. The Foreign Ministry has been notified about this," the Commission says n a press release. The Commission for Prevention and Protection from Discrimination, it adds, is established in line with the law on prevention and protection from discrimination. According to the law's provisions, the Commission is an independent body elected by Parliament and it reports only to the legislative house. Speaking to reporters after the visit, Commission member Vesna Bendevska said they acted on a discrimination complaint filed by a citizens' association, but fell short of revealing what the complaint was about exactly. "The Commission will publish its opinion once the procedure is completed. According to the allegations in the complaint, we are obliged to interview the party against which the complaint was filed and we collected documents. We paid a visit announced a week  ago and we visited the premises of the potential discriminator as alleged by those submitting the complaint," stated Bendevska. The Ivan Mihajlov Culture Center was opened on April 16 with Bulgarian top official in attendance at the event.