Iva Mihaylova disputes medical treatment denial in North Macedonia trial

Iva Mihaylova, a 23-year-old Bulgarian-North Macedonian dual citizen, is facing legal proceedings in North Macedonia following a fatal car accident in October 2025. Mihaylova is currently contesting the denial of her requests to seek urgent specialized medical treatment abroad, specifically in Bulgaria, Israel, or Turkey, for spinal injuries. Her legal team argues that North Macedonian courts in Kochani and Stip have repeatedly rejected these requests despite medical documentation from local clinics stating that the necessary intervention cannot be performed domestically.

During recent court sessions, Mihaylova has raised concerns regarding the integrity of the investigation, suggesting that the prosecution may be withholding evidence. A central dispute in the trial involves conflicting expert testimonies regarding the cause of the collision. While prosecution experts claim Mihaylova entered the oncoming lane, defense experts and international reports suggest the other vehicle entered her lane, potentially due to a stopped police car violating traffic rules.

Her lawyer, Nikolay Dimitrov, has stated that the legal team is preparing an immediate appeal to the European Court of Human Rights, alleging that the refusal of medical care constitutes a violation of human rights and potentially stems from ethnic pressure.