Protests were held in Sofia and the North Macedonian city of Kocani in support of 23-year-old Iva Mihaylova, a dual Bulgarian and North Macedonian citizen facing charges over a fatal traffic accident. Demonstrators in front of North Macedonia's embassy in Sofia called for Mihaylova to be allowed to receive medical treatment in Bulgaria, while a separate protest took place outside the courthouse in Kocani as another hearing in her case was underway.
Eight Bulgarian lawmakers attended the court proceedings in Kocani to monitor the case. Their presence followed a commitment by the Parliamentary Committee on Policies for Bulgarians Abroad to follow developments and ensure that Mihaylova's rights are respected.
The case has developed into a source of tension between Sofia and Skopje, although it stems from a traffic accident that took place in October 2025 on the road between Kocani and Shtip. Several people were injured, including Mihaylova, while one person in another vehicle died.
Macedonian prosecutors and Mihaylova's defense offer sharply different accounts of how the accident happened. According to the prosecution, Mihaylova was driving at excessive speed when she entered the oncoming lane while passing a police car that had stopped another vehicle for inspection. Her car then collided with a vehicle traveling in the opposite direction, leaving several people injured and one person dead.
