Iva Mihajlova to be tried in absentia; next hearing Nov 9
Basic Public Prosecutor's Office Kocani proposed trial in absentia over the October 7, 2025 collision that killed a 33-year-old man.
The Basic Public Prosecutor's Office Kocani has asked that Iva Mihajlova be tried in absentia after authorities declared her unavailable for prosecution; the next court session is set for November 9 at 9:00.
Mihajlova faces charges for serious offenses against the safety of people and property in traffic connected to a collision on October 7, 2025, on the Kocani–Shtip road that left a 33-year-old man dead and several others injured. Prosecutors say she was driving at an unlawful speed and crossed into the opposite traffic lane.
The defence rejects the allegations, maintaining that the other vehicle crossed into Mihajlova’s lane while attempting to pass a stopped police vehicle.
Escape from the country and competing versions
Mihajlova suffered severe spinal injuries in the crash and, despite a travel ban and confiscated passports, went to Bulgaria. She and her Bulgarian lawyer, Nikolay Dimitrov, claim that on October 11 they crossed the border legally with the knowledge of Macedonian police officers.
The Ministry of Interior, however, disputes that account and states that Mihajlova did not leave North Macedonia legally. The decision to proceed with a trial in her absence was made following the proposal of the Basic Public Prosecutor's Office Kocani.
The case will continue at the hearing scheduled for November 9 at 9:00, where the court will consider the prosecution’s motion and the available evidence while Mihajlova remains unreachable to court authorities.
Photo: press material from the event
