Balgarianovinite.com Anita Ekenova, head of the Ot Izvora Bulgarian folk dance group based in Lyon, has been awarded the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry’s Golden Badge of Honour. The distinction was presented by Nadia Vaneva, Bulgaria’s Consul General in Lyon, during celebrations marking the group’s 15th anniversary, the Consulate General said on Wednesday.
The diplomatic mission said the award was presented on behalf of the Minister of Foreign Affairs in recognition of Ekenova’s long-standing contribution to promoting Bulgarian culture and preserving Bulgarian traditions in France.
In her address, the Consul General stressed that over the past 15 years, the Ot Izvora Association has established itself as a living bridge between Bulgaria and France, between generations, and among all who preserve the Bulgarian identity and culture far from their homeland.
The Consulate General said the ceremony also highlighted Anita Ekenova’s contribution, noting that through her energy, talent and dedication, she has helped preserve Bulgarian traditions while building a close-knit and active Bulgarian community in France.
Ot Izvora was founded in 2011 in Lyon. Its main goal is to promote and spread Bulgarian folk songs, dances, customs and folk art. In 2015, on Ekenova’s initiative, the Expats Join Hands in Worldwide Dance travelling festival was launched. It is organized annually by Bulgarian folk ensembles in various European countries. The latest, 11th edition of the festival, took place in Munich in April.
On May 15, BTA and the Ot Izvora Association signed a partnership agreement, which envisages that the two sides will join efforts “under conditions of partnership and cooperation to encourage the development and promotion of various activities, initiatives and events”. Ot Izvora Bulgarian Folk Dance Group Head Awarded Foreign Ministry’s Golden Badge of Honour 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-07-08 17:40:37 Latest news World news Country news Most important news latest news most important latest of the day Justice Petar Nizamov Feathers Petar Nizamov- Feathers Justice bg iustitia.bg iustitia iusticia usticia investigation Burgas Bulgaria news news of the last hour news of the day news of today Bulgaria news The news from Bulgaria blitz news top news most important most commented latest news Boyko Borisov news weather coronavirus news news weather facebook youtube facebook instagram news today news of the last minutes news today today news news bg news leading news hot news bg news site for news all news news bg news of the last hour latest latest news bg news of today news today news today news of the last hour latest news today news bg news news 24 hours news vesti bg novini news world bird bg bivol bg bivol trud bg novini latest news today novinite bg news hello bulgaria political party coat of arms delyan peevski scandalous Bulgarian National Television Free Europe Television scandal exclusive live tv live right now tv tv online tv program bg live now tv news online tv online live court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas district court Burgas appellate court Burgas prosecutor Burgas prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev Prosecutor Geshev Tsatsarov Ministry of Internal Affairs Burgas ODMR Burgas ODPR Burgas police Burgas district police Burgas prosecutor Tsatsarov SGS cases Varna court chairman of the SGS court decisions on civil cases decisions on cases Plovdiv court decision of the court decisions cases Varna court criminal cases district district court decisions work in the court SGS chairman of the SGS judges Sofia court post judges Plovdiv court Plovdiv judges Plovdiv Supreme Court Inspectorate Supreme Court Supreme Judicial Council lawyer lawyer criminal cases lawyer civil cases lawyer marriage cases lawyer administrative criminal law criminal process civil law civil process administrative law constitutional law