Many Macedonian leaders had lived in Sofia since the failed 1903 revolt against the Ottoman Empire, and now they were joined by others who fled the Yugoslavian government (which maintained as its official position that Macedonians were ethnic Serbs).
Paljud Makedoonia juhid elasid pärast nurjunud 1903 mässu Osmanite riigi vastu Sofias ja nüüd olid nendega ühinenud teised, kes põgenesid Jugoslaavia valitsuse eest (mis säilitas ametliku seisukoha, et makedoonlased olid etnilised serblased).