Convicted man sought by North Macedonia appears on Bulgarian TV to defend daughter on trial in Kočani
Mihailov, who has a final 12.5‑year sentence in the 'Detonator' case, said he is the father of a defendant in a Kočani traffic‑death trial.
An inmate sought by North Macedonian authorities appeared on Bulgarian television this week and spoke publicly in defence of a woman on trial in Kočani whom he identified as his daughter.
Simeon Mihailov — against whom an international arrest warrant is active and who has a final 12.5‑year sentence for the attempted murder of Dragancho Stoimenov, known as Daco Belski, in the case known as "Detonator" — gave interviews to Bulgarian media on consecutive days. On NOVA TV’s programme "Zdravo Bugarija" he presented himself as the father of Iva Mihailova, who is facing trial over a traffic accident in Kočani last year that left one person dead.
The hearing in Kočani drew attention: several members of the Bulgarian Parliament and numerous media outlets were present after Mihailova — who holds both North Macedonian and Bulgarian citizenship — complained of discrimination and said she had been denied medical treatment in the Republic of Bulgaria.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs confirmed to journalists that the international warrant for the man who identified himself on television is still active. "We inform you that the international warrant for the person to whom your question refers is still active," the Ministry said.
During his appearance on NOVA, Mihailov also brought up political themes and framed parts of his defence in broader political terms.
Mihailov is one of fifteen people convicted in the Detonator case — a network linked to criminal activity in Kočani and Vinica, convicted for offences including attempted murder, violence, loan‑sharking, extortion and illegal possession of weapons. Police reports up to 2013 described incidents such as burned cars, planted explosives, fights and violent confrontations in nightclubs and cafés.
Photo: press material from the event
