Six Bulgarian MPs to attend Iva Mihailova hearing in Kochani

At least six Bulgarian members of parliament plan to attend the trial hearing scheduled for 31 August 2026 at the Basic Court in Kochani, where Iva Mihailova — who holds both North Macedonian and Bulgarian citizenship — faces charges linked to a traffic collision last October in which one person was killed and several others were injured.

Mihailova is accused of the crime "Serious acts endangering the safety of people and property in traffic," but she denies responsibility for the accident. The case drew particular attention in Sofia after a Macedonian court refused her request to return personal documents seized under precautionary measures so she could seek medical treatment in Bulgaria.

Bulgarian MPs and official reactions

The Appellate Court in Shtip confirmed the Basic Court—Kochani decision on 20 August, and political groups in Bulgaria quickly mobilized. GERB announced that MPs Georg Georgiev and Krasimir Terziev would attend the hearing. The party said the presence of its deputies "is an expression of the fact that GERB is closely following the development of the case around Iva Mihailova and categorically stands behind her right to a fair trial, as well as to be given the opportunity to continue necessary treatment in Bulgaria."

Progressive Bulgaria said three of its MPs — Ivan Golomeev, Bojko Mladenov and Borislav Georgiev — who are members of the parliamentary Commission on Policy for Bulgarians Abroad, will also be present. "The MPs will carefully follow the course of the court hearing and will inform the Bulgarian public about the development of the case. The National Assembly insists on a fair trial, protection of the rights of Iva Mihailova and the possibility that she receive the necessary medical treatment," the group said.

Democratic Bulgaria MP Elisaveta Belobradova, deputy chair of the Commission on Policy for Bulgarians Abroad, announced her attendance via Facebook. The police in North Macedonia said internal control will investigate how two deputies from the Revival party, who previously had an entry ban, were present at an earlier hearing.

Bulgaria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued statements urging that "Iva Mihailova be afforded timely and appropriate medical care, in order to avoid the real danger of permanent disabilities with irreversible consequences for her right to a dignified life." Bulgarian authorities and some politicians have also involved European institutions: President Rumen Radev thanked Bulgarian MEPs who informed EU bodies, and Vice President Iliana Yotova said she will raise the case with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe during a meeting in Strasbourg in mid-September.

Separately, a civic protest was announced for noon on 31 August in front of the Embassy of North Macedonia in Sofia by an organization calling itself Foundation Macedonia to show support for Mihailova and for people with Bulgarian identity in North Macedonia.

At the Kochani hearing experts who prepared two conflicting forensic reports were expected to be questioned; Mihailova’s defence says those materials exonerate her, and her mother, Kristina Mihailova, has complained about the way the process is being conducted. "Regarding treatment, Kristina Mihailova said that during the last 10 months the family has requested five times that Iva Mihailova be treated in Bulgaria. According to her, access to rehabilitation in the nearby town of Shtip was even denied," the defence reported.

Photo: press material from the event