Iva Mihaylova is now back in Bulgaria following successful negotiations with the Republic of North Macedonia to allow her to receive medical treatment in her home country Bulgaria.
“We crossed the border with my lawyer. My health deteriorated, so he picked me up, and we returned to Bulgaria without any problems. I showed my North Macedonian ID card at their border, and then my Bulgarian ID card at our border,” she told bTV.
Mihaylova, who holds both Bulgarian and North Macedonian citizenship, is facing trial in North Macedonia over a serious road accident that occurred on October 7, 2025, on the Kočani-Štip road. One person was killed and several others, including Mihaylova herself, were injured in the crash. Prosecutors allege that she was driving above the speed limit and crossed into oncoming traffic. Her defence contests these allegations, citing expert assessments.
Following the accident, Mihaylova was placed under restrictions preventing her from leaving the country, which hindered her from receiving the medical treatment she needed in Bulgaria.
Mihaylova said the trial would continue with or without her presence. “I feel safe in Bulgaria. In North Macedonia, I was subjected to repression because of my Bulgarian origin, and that was one of the reasons I was charged,” she said.
Bulgaria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it had not been informed in advance of the actions taken by Mihaylova, her family and her lawyer that led to her arrival in Bulgaria, and had not been involved in organising them. The ministry stressed that the immediate priority was to ensure she received the necessary medical care at Pirogov Emergency Medicine University Hospital. It also confirmed that the Bulgarian state would continue to assist in the case within the scope of its authority.
“We will assess whether Iva Mihaylova needs protection and, if necessary, it will be provided,” Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev said. He added that the authorities in North Macedonia had not contacted their Bulgarian counterparts before Mihaylova arrived in Sofia, BTA reports.
Edited by Ivo Ivanov