Six Bulgarian MPs attend trial of Iva Mihailova in Kocani
The trial over the October incident in which one person died resumed at the Kocani Basic Court; Mihailova faces charges of "serious offences against the safety of people and property in traffic."
Six Bulgarian members of parliament attended proceedings at the Kocani Basic Court on the day the trial of Iva Mihailova continued. Mihailova, a resident of Kocani with dual Macedonian and Bulgarian citizenship, faces criminal charges connected to a traffic collision from last October.
International interest after denied travel documents
Prosecutors have charged Mihailova with "serious offences against the safety of people and property in traffic." The case concerns a crash in October last year in which one person died and several others were injured.
Mihailova rejects responsibility for the accident and maintains her innocence in court. During the session, the presence of the Bulgarian delegation — six MPs — underscored the political and public attention the case has drawn across the border.
The trial also attracted attention in Sofia after the court refused Mihailova's request to return personal identification documents that had been seized as precautionary measures; she had sought them so she could receive medical treatment abroad. That decision was cited by Bulgarian officials and observers as the reason for close monitoring of the proceedings.
Courtroom exchanges on procedural issues continued as the trial progressed; no final verdict has been reached and further hearings are expected in the coming weeks.
Photo: press material from the event
