Two Bulgarian MPs, despite ban, attended trial in Kochani

Two MPs from the Bulgarian party Vazrazhdane attended a hearing at the Basic Court in Kochani despite a court decision that prohibits their entry into the Republic of North Macedonia.

Krsto Vrachev and Angel Georgiev published photographs from the courtroom where the case against 23-year-old Iva Mihajlova, who holds dual Macedonian and Bulgarian citizenship, is being heard. The two MPs used the visit to criticize the handling of the case and to address the European Union in defense of the accused.

Judgment and entry ban

The appearance of Vrachev and Georgiev contradicts the judgment of the Basic Court Bitola under case number PRK-O-263/25, which prohibited a total of 27 people — all MPs of Vazrazhdane — from even receiving entry permits into North Macedonia because, as the court determined, they illegally crossed the Macedonian–Greek border and stayed unlawfully in the territory for several days. The judgment states that the group was convicted on 8 August 2025 and that monetary fines were also imposed on them.

The text of the judgment states: "From checks carried out in the passenger and vehicle control system of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of North Macedonia, it has been established that the mentioned persons did not have a legal entry into the state and they illegally crossed the state border from the Republic of Greece into the Republic of North Macedonia on 15.06.2025, EXCERPT FROM JUDGMENT PRK-O-263/25 OF THE BASIC COURT BITOLA."

The Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of North Macedonia, asked about the crossing of the border, responded that it does not provide data on entries and exits of persons at the request of third parties: "The Ministry of Internal Affairs does not share information about entries and exits of persons at the request of third parties. Such information is provided exclusively at the request of a competent state authority, in accordance with legal regulations, or to the person themselves for their personal needs, according to applicable procedures," the Ministry said.

Iva Mihajlova is accused in a traffic accident resulting in a death, but she and her lawyer deny guilt and have requested that her passports be returned so she can continue treatment in Bulgaria. The lawyer confirmed that a consultative opinion has been submitted as part of the new request to the Kochani court; the court is expected to decide during the coming week. In addition to the entry ban, the court previously imposed misdemeanor fines ranging from €50 to €230.

Photo: press material from the event