Public Prosecutor's Office: Iva Mihajlova had two passports seized and was barred from leaving Kocani

The Public Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of North Macedonia (PPORNM) says that Iva Mihajlova of Kocani — accused in a criminal case over a traffic accident with fatal consequences — had two travel documents seized last year and was placed under restrictions because prosecutors considered her a flight risk.

Prosecutors: measures taken on October 9, 2025

According to the office, on October 9, 2025 a public prosecutor ordered the seizure of two travel documents belonging to the accused — a Macedonian and a Bulgarian passport — and imposed a ban on crossing the state border with an ID card, a prohibition on leaving the town of Kocani and an obligation to report to an official.

After Mihajlova fled to Bulgaria — which the prosecutor's statement says she crossed illegally — the PPORNM says the responsible prosecutor took all available steps to secure her presence in the proceedings and repeatedly opposed requests to return the travel documents because of the flight risk.

In the office's words: "The accused, following a proposal by a public prosecutor already from October 9, 2025, had two travel documents (Macedonian and Bulgarian) seized, and a ban was issued on crossing the state border with an ID card, a ban on leaving Kocani and an obligation to report to an official. The competent public prosecutor took all steps within his competence to secure the person, and the risk of flight was one of the key grounds for which the prosecution repeatedly gave a negative opinion regarding the request for the return of the travel document," the Public Prosecutor's Office informed.

The case has prompted contrasting statements: prosecutors say she crossed into Bulgaria illegally, while the Ministry of Interior has earlier reported it has no record of Mihajlova exiting the country. The investigation into the fatal traffic accident and related procedural steps are ongoing.

Photo: press material from the event