Protests held in North Macedonia and Sofia in support of Iva Mihaylova

Citizens gathered in support of young Iva Mihaylova in front of the Embassy of the Republic of North Macedonia in Sofia. They are calling for the young woman to be allowed to receive medical treatment in Bulgaria.

A protest with the same demand was also held in front of the courthouse in Kočani, North Macedonia, as a hearing was taking place in the case againstthe 23-year-old Bulgarian woman. Bulgarian MPs and lawyers are present in the courtroom to follow the proceedings. The presence of the MPs follows a commitment made by the Parliamentary Committee on Policies for Bulgarians Abroad, our correspondent Georgi Markov reported.

The case against Iva Mihaylova, who is citizen of both Bulgaria and North Macedonia, concerns her involvement in a car accident that resulted in the death of one person. Mihaylova has been charged with a serious offense related to road traffic safety in North Macedonia.

The accident occurred in early October 2025. Several people, including Mihaylova herself, were injured. Iva’s documents were confiscated following the accident, preventing her from receiving treatment in Bulgaria — one of the countries where such treatment is possible because of the nature of her spinal injuries.

Edited by Miglena Ivanova

Translated by Kostadin Atanasov