Iva M. case: North Macedonia calls it an escape, will alert EU and Council of Europe

The case of a 23-year-old woman with Bulgarian and North Macedonian citizenship is straining ties between Sofia and Skopje. North Macedonia's Foreign Ministry said on Monday afternoon it would inform EU institutions and the Council of Europe about her "escape" and her "high-level reception in Sofia," saying such conduct by Bulgarian state institutions undermines efforts to build trust. The rule of law "must not be selective" or depend on a person's nationality, the ministry said, according to Bulgaria's BTA news agency.

Earlier, North Macedonia's Interior Ministry said its border control system showed no record of her leaving the country and that a court order barred her from doing so. Bulgarian border police also have no record of a legal entry. She is on trial in North Macedonia over a crash near Kočani on Oct. 7, 2025, that killed one person and injured several, including her. Prosecutors allege she was speeding, according to media reports, which her defense disputes. Her North Macedonian lawyer said he was surprised, noting there was no court permission.

Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev said the woman is at Sofia's Pirogov hospital; she says she crossed the border with her lawyer, showing her identity documents. Demerdzhiev said she would be questioned about whether, when, how and where she crossed. Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova called it a humanitarian case that went unanswered in North Macedonia, saying her ministry was not notified in advance and was not involved in her return. The trial in Kočani resumes on Nov. 9.