site.btaForeign Minister, Committee Discuss North Macedonia Restrictions on Bulgarian Citizen's Treatment in Bulgaria

Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova said Bulgarian citizen Iva Mihaylova cannot receive adequate medical treatment in the Republic of North Macedonia. Speaking at a meeting of the Committee on Policies for Bulgarians Abroad on Thursday, Petrova said Mihaylova already has a scheduled admission to the St. Ivan Rilski University Hospital in Sofia on June 15.

Bulgarian National Television (BNT) reported on the case of Iva Mihaylova, a Bulgarian citizen who says she has been barred from leaving the town of Kocani after a traffic incident in which she was injured. BNT said Mihaylova has had both her Bulgarian and North Macedonia identity documents confiscated, and has been barred from travelling to Bulgaria for treatment despite back injuries and symptoms of partial paralysis.

Committee Chair Angel Georgiev presented information on the case, saying that Mihaylova is a Bulgarian citizen who lives, works and studies in Bulgaria, but has been subject to restrictive measures by the authorities of North Macedonia since October 2025 in connection with a traffic accident in Kocani. Аccording to her lawyers, no formal charges were filed for eight months after the incident. Georgiev said Mihaylova was initially taken to a hospital in Kocani, where an X-ray showed no serious injuries. However, due to persistent severe pain, she was transferred at her request to a hospital in Skopje, where an MRI revealed one fractured and one cracked vertebra.

According to the information provided, Mihaylova remained under medical observation for four days while under police guard. Police officers confiscated both her identity documents issued by North Macedonia and her Bulgarian passport, and imposed a ban on her leaving the country and the town of Kocani. Georgiev further noted that, as a result of her injuries, she suffers from problems with her left leg, including periodic partial paralysis linked to nerve damage. He added that doctors recommended additional treatment and surgery, which, according to the information provided, can be performed in Bulgaria, Turkiye or Israel, but not in the Republic of North Macedonia.

He said Mihaylova has submitted several requests to travel to Bulgaria for treatment, which were initially rejected by the Kocani Basic Court and later denied by the Shtip Court of Appeal. On April 27, a new request was submitted, accompanied by a proposed guarantee in the form of real estate and a forensic medical examination. To date, she has received a total of five refusals to leave the country for medical treatment. According to the latest information, an indictment has been filed against her and a court hearing is scheduled for July 6 in Kocani.

Foreign Minister Petrova outlined the steps taken by Bulgarian institutions in the case.

On December 19, 2025, Iva Mihaylova contacted the Bulgarian Embassy in Skopje for the first time by phone. At that time, she reported the incident that occurred on October 7, 2025 and indicated that she had already hired a defence lawyer.

On March 23, 2026, she first informed the diplomatic mission in writing about developments in the case and requested assistance. In the letter, she said her lawyers had filed three petitions with the court for the return of her Bulgarian passport so she could undergo urgent medical treatment in Bulgaria, but all three requests were rejected.

Petrova said that after receiving the request, the Embassy in Skopje established continuous contact with Mihaylova. On May 5, representatives of the diplomatic mission met her in Kocani, and on May 26, the head of the consular service met her and her mother again and collected all medical documentation related to the case.

Petrova added that the documents were forwarded to the Foreign Ministry and that, with the assistance of the Health Ministry, contact was established with the director of St. Ivan Rilski Hospital in Sofia. After reviewing the medical records, the head of the Neurosurgery Clinic confirmed the possibility of treatment, and Mihaylova was scheduled for examination and subsequent treatment on June 15.

Petrova emphasized that the case is complex as it involves a person with dual citizenship. She added that, in line with international practice, states treat dual nationals as their own citizens when they are on their territory. The minister also noted that the Bulgarian side has repeatedly raised the issue of Mihaylova's treatment with the authorities in Skopje.

She added that, following a discussion with her counterpart from North Macedonia, the latter had expressed readiness either to have a Bulgarian medical team sent or to take any necessary steps to ensure that Mihaylova receives adequate treatment.

Petrova also noted that, according to Foreign Ministry information, the lawyer initially hired by Mihaylova had made omissions in collecting the medical documentation. The Bulgarian Ambassador to North Macedonia, Zhelyazko Radukov, said the case is still unfolding and requires a careful approach.

During the meeting, the Committee's Deputy Chair Elisaveta Belobradova raised the issue of cases in which Bulgarian citizens and citizens of North Macedonia with Bulgarian self-identification seek assistance from the Bulgarian Embassy in Skopje. In response, Ambassador Radukov said the diplomatic mission receives seven to eight requests for consular assistance or support each week. In addition to these, the Embassy also receives reports from people who believe they have been subjected to discrimination or violations of their rights due to their Bulgarian identity.