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Bulgaria–North Macedonia Iva Mihaylova dispute

Updated 6 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-09-03 12:54 UTC → 2026-09-06 02:30 UTC · added ~~removed~~

In late August 2026, the dispute over Iva Mihaylova’s legal and medical status intensified. Bulgarian MP Elizaveta Belobradova confirmed her intention to attend the August 31 court hearing in Kocani. Meanwhile, in Sofia, the NGO ‘Foundation Macedonia’ organized protests to advocate for Mihaylova’s right to emergency medical treatment. Mihaylova’s mother, Hristina Mihailova, described her daughter’s condition as critical, warning of risks including paralysis. Supporters allege that Mihaylova is being prevented from seeking specialized spinal treatment in Bulgaria because her documents were seized by authorities following the October 2025 accident. Mihaylova has reported that eight separate requests for medical travel have been denied, leading her to express doubts regarding the fairness of the judicial process. During the August 31 proceedings, the final witness, police officer Antonio Gigov, testified that he did not witness the collision as he was performing a vehicle inspection. The case continues to be marked by conflicting expert evidence: while one report suggests Mihaylova entered oncoming traffic, two other reports indicate an oncoming vehicle drifted into her lane while attempting to bypass a stopped car, causing the crash. On September 3, 2026, Bulgarian MP Denitsa Sacheva appealed to Michael O’Flaherty, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, regarding Mihaylova’s humanitarian case. Sacheva noted that while medical experts from the Mother Teresa University Clinic in Skopje and specialists in both Bulgaria and North Macedonia recommend treatment in Bulgaria, Turkey, or Israel, two judicial instances in North Macedonia have denied permission for her to leave for medical purposes. Sacheva is calling for an immediate investigation into the refusal to allow Mihaylova to access necessary foreign care. By September 5, the Bulgarian government increased its involvement. Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova met with Hristina Mihaylova to express support for the family.

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