Skopje Calls Iva Mihaylova’s Return to Sofia an 'Escape'

“Regarding Iva Mihaylova’s escape to Bulgaria and the high-level reception she received in Sofia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade states that such actions by Bulgarian state institutions undermine the efforts we are making to build trust and contradict declared commitments to developing good-neighbourly relations.” This is what North Macedonia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs says in connection with the 'Iva Mihaylova' case.

The ministry’s statement says that such conduct runs counter to declared commitments to developing good-neighbourly relations.

“The high-level reception of a person against whom legal proceedings are underway sends a seriously misguided message. Nationality and possession of another citizenship should not serve as a shield from accountability before the competent institutions. Everyone has the right to a fair trial. No one is entitled to exemption from the law,” the ministry says.

• Macedonian media: The Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of North Macedonia has no information that Iva Mihaylova crossed the border

Skopje expects Bulgaria, as a member of the European Union, to act in accordance with European principles, including respect for judicial proceedings, cooperation between institutions and equality before the law.

“We expect the Republic of Bulgaria, as a member of the European Union, to act in accordance with fundamental European principles: respect for judicial proceedings, cooperation between the competent institutions and equality before the law. Procedures that create the impression of institutional protection from judicial accountability are incompatible with these principles. The rule of law must not be applied selectively or depend on a person’s nationality,” the ministry says.

The statement also says that North Macedonia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs will inform international partners, including EU institutions and the Council of Europe, about developments in the case.

• Iva Mihaylova will remain at Pirogov Hospital for several days

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade will inform international partners, particularly the institutions of the European Union and the Council of Europe, about developments in the case. Such actions, for which there have been previous examples, directly undermine trust between the two countries and raise serious questions about consistency in respecting shared European values.

“We remain committed to developing good-neighbourly relations based on mutual respect, trust and European principles. We expect the same sense of responsibility from the Bulgarian side.”

“Respect for justice is not a matter of political choice, but a fundamental European obligation,” the statement concludes.