Iva Mihailova from Kočani has gone to Bulgaria, says she may not return for the trial
Mihailova says she crossed the border with her lawyer because of deteriorating health; Bulgarian ministry says it was not informed in advance.
Iva Mihailova from Kočani — who faces charges in a court case over a traffic accident with fatal consequences — has traveled to Bulgaria, her lawyer and Bulgarian officials confirmed after statements published on October 12, 2026.
Mihailova told the Bulgarian broadcaster bTV that she crossed the border accompanied by her attorney, and that worsening health prompted the move. She said she presented her Macedonian ID at the frontier and that she feels safe in Bulgaria.
"We crossed the border with my lawyer. My health deteriorated, he took me and we returned to Bulgaria without any problems. At the border I showed my Macedonian identity card. I feel safe in Bulgaria. In North Macedonia I was repressed because of my Bulgarian origin and that was one of the reasons they accused me," Mihailova said to bTV.
Lawyer and official reactions
Mihailova’s Bulgarian lawyer, Nikolay Dimitrov, declined to say which border crossing they used, explaining he did not want to cause problems for people who helped them. He acknowledged their actions might breach legal restrictions placed on Mihailova but said the right to obtain medical treatment guided their decision.
"This situation is unbearable and we took our fate into our own hands," Dimitrov told bTV.
The Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it had not been notified in advance of Mihailova’s return and denied organising the move. In a statement the ministry said the lawyer contacted the ministry shortly before his public remarks and that Bulgaria has consistently supported efforts for Mihailova to receive necessary treatment; the ministry added it will continue to provide assistance within its mandate.
Angel Georgiev, a representative of the Bulgarian party Revival, announced on social media that his party had pushed for Mihailova’s return after months of requests for her to obtain treatment in Bulgaria. He wrote that she is already in Bulgaria and framed the move as the result of their efforts.
The court handling the case has a next hearing scheduled for 9 November, and Mihailova said she did not commit to attending. "The case continues with or without me. We'll see how it will be," she told bTV.
Photo: press material from the event
