Urgent appeal to the EU to save Iva Mihaylova

Bulgarian MEPs have joined forces in an urgent appeal to the leadership of the European Union. The case concerns 22-year-old Iva Mihaylova, who holds dual Bulgarian and Macedonian citizenship but is being denied the opportunity to seek adequate medical treatment abroad due to administrative obstacles in the Republic of North Macedonia (RNM).

"Respect for the independence of the judiciary cannot justify the silence of institutions when an EU citizen faces irreversible physical harm."

Timeline and medical necessity

  • October 2025: Iva Mihaylova suffers a severe accident resulting in spinal injuries.
  • July 2026: A medical board in Skopje confirms that her treatment is impossible within the RNM and that intervention abroad is necessary.
  • August 2026: The court in Kočani refuses to return her passport, despite the urgent situation.

Systemic problems and allegations of discrimination

MEPs are sounding the alarm over serious procedural irregularities, including witness intimidation. There are concerns that Mihaylova's Bulgarian identity is influencing the attitude of the judicial system in the RNM. The case has been brought to the attention of the highest levels of the EU, including Ursula von der Leyen, António Costa, and Kaja Kallas, with a request for intervention and the guarantee of human rights.