English updates on Bulgarian foreign policy and diplomacy. AI and automated. Independent and not affiliated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
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🇧🇬🇲🇩 Bulgarian Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova reaffirmed Sofia’s strong support for Moldova’s EU accession, arguing that Chișinău has demonstrated that political will and genuine reforms can move a candidate country forward even under an exceptionally difficult security environment.
Following talks with Moldovan FM Mihai Popșoi, Petrova stressed that Bulgaria supports Moldova advancing on its own merits, at a pace determined by its reforms and fulfilment of the accession criteria.
“Moldova clearly shows that when there is political will and readiness for reforms, the path towards accession to the European Union is possible,” Petrova said, praising the Moldovan government’s political will and maturity.
A major part of the talks concerned the approximately 50,000-strong Bulgarian community in the Taraclia region, which Petrova described as one of the strongest links between the two countries.
She thanked the Moldovan authorities for safeguarding the community’s ethno-cultural and educational rights, highlighting the transformation of Taraclia State University “Grigore Țamblac” into a branch of Bulgaria’s University of Ruse “Angel Kanchev.”
According to Petrova, it has become the first independent Bulgarian higher-education institution outside Bulgaria, currently educating more than 400 students, with interest continuing to grow.
Petrova also personally thanked President Maia Sandu for honouring her commitment that Moldova’s administrative reform would not negatively affect the Bulgarian minority. She highlighted the preservation of Taraclia as a separate administrative-territorial unit and its transformation into a municipality as evidence of Chișinău’s approach towards the Bulgarian community.
Energy security was another central topic.
Bulgaria is helping strengthen Moldova’s energy security and diversify its gas supplies through the Vertical Gas Corridor, while Sofia sees further cooperation as an opportunity for Bulgarian companies to expand their presence in Moldova.
Petrova said Bulgaria attaches major importance to positioning itself as a regional factor for energy stability, something from which Moldova can directly benefit.
The two countries also intend to deepen cooperation through Bulgaria’s development assistance, including projects supporting Moldova and the historic Bulgarian community.
Petrova’s broader message was that Bulgaria wants its relationship with Moldova to develop simultaneously across EU integration, minority rights, education, energy security, economic cooperation and development assistance.
Sofia will continue supporting Moldova’s European trajectory on the basis of its own reforms and progress, with Petrova arguing that the European path should deliver both economic growth and greater opportunities for the citizens of the two countries.
🚨🇧🇬🇲🇰 The case of Iva Mihailova is being pushed further at European level, with Bulgarian MP Denitsa Sacheva (GERB/EPP) formally appealing to the responsible European Commissioner to intervene over what she describes as an urgent humanitarian case in North Macedonia.
Sacheva outlined the case of the 23-year-old Bulgarian and North Macedonian citizen, who has been unable to leave North Macedonia for appropriate medical treatment following the serious road accident she suffered in October 2025.
She highlighted a crucial finding from July: a medical council in Skopje concluded that the treatment Mihailova requires **cannot be performed in North Macedonia and requires medical intervention abroad**.
According to the letter, specialists in both Bulgaria and North Macedonia consider the intervention medically necessary to prevent further deterioration and potentially irreversible consequences. The assessment includes an opinion from a medical consilium at North Macedonia’s largest public healthcare and university clinical complex, “Mother Teresa” in Skopje.
Mihailova says the specialised procedure is unavailable in North Macedonia but can be performed in Bulgaria, Türkiye and Israel.
Sacheva also detailed the judicial developments preventing Mihailova from travelling. The Basic Court in Kočani refused to return her passport in August despite the medical situation, while the Court of Appeal in Štip rejected her appeal on 20 August.
Another hearing was held in Kočani on 31 August, with the next court hearing now scheduled for 28 September.
Sacheva concludes with a direct appeal to the European Commissioner:
“I urge you to investigate this humanitarian case as soon as possible and to insist that the authorities of North Macedonia reconsider their refusal to allow Ms Iva Mihailova to receive the necessary medical treatment abroad.”
The intervention adds to mounting Bulgarian diplomatic and political pressure over the case, which has already been raised by Bulgaria’s government, MFA, President and representatives at European level.
🚨🇧🇬🇲🇰 President Iliana Yotova says she will take the case of Iva Mihailova directly to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe during a meeting in Strasbourg in mid-September, further internationalising the case following the latest refusal by North Macedonia’s courts to allow Mihailova to travel abroad for treatment.
Yotova recalled that doctors in North Macedonia have themselves concluded that the treatment Mihailova requires cannot be provided in the country.
The President also revealed that she formally wrote to North Macedonian President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, proposing two possible ways forward: allowing a Bulgarian medical team to examine Mihailova and determine how her treatment should proceed, or ensuring that she receives the necessary treatment in North Macedonia.
According to Yotova, the letter was officially sent and registered on 11 August, but Sofia has so far received “absolutely no response.”
“In that letter, I asked her, as a human being and as a woman, to help this 23-year-old girl not become disabled,” Yotova said.
Her announcement comes after the Court of Appeal in Štip upheld the Kočani court’s refusal to allow Mihailova to leave North Macedonia for the medical intervention recommended by specialists.
Bulgaria’s MFA has sharply criticised the latest ruling, describing as “inhumane” an approach under which the necessity of treatment is questioned because the gravest potential consequences have not yet occurred. Sofia has pledged to continue using all available diplomatic and legal mechanisms.
The case is therefore increasingly moving beyond the bilateral level: Bulgarian representatives have already sought European attention, while Yotova now intends to raise it personally within the Council of Europe, whose core mandate includes human rights, democracy and the rule of law.
🚨🇧🇬🇲🇰 Bulgaria’s MFA has issued another strongly worded statement on the case of Iva Mihailova after the Court of Appeal in Štip upheld the Kočani court’s decision preventing her from travelling abroad for the medical treatment she requires.
The MFA expressed particular concern that the court apparently failed to give sufficient weight to the conclusions of North Macedonia’s own competent medical institution regarding the severity of Mihailova’s condition, the prescribed treatment and the fact that the required intervention cannot be provided in North Macedonia.
Sofia stressed that the procedure is not optional treatment sought at the patient’s preference. Specialists in both Bulgaria and North Macedonia have determined that it is a necessary part of treating Mihailova’s severe condition and is intended to prevent further deterioration, including potentially irreversible consequences.
The MFA sharply criticised what it described as an “inhumane approach” under which the medical necessity of treatment is questioned because there is insufficient evidence that the worst possible consequences have already occurred.
“The purpose of timely treatment is precisely to prevent these consequences from occurring, not to wait for them to materialise before a court recognises the existence of a medical necessity,” the ministry stated.
Bulgaria warned that every further delay is particularly serious given the nature of Mihailova’s condition and the risk that, as time passes, her prospects for successful treatment and recovery could become increasingly limited.
The MFA says it has already taken urgent measures within its competence to protect Iva Mihailova’s rights and will continue using all available diplomatic and legal mechanisms to secure her access to the necessary treatment without further delay.
The 20 August appellate ruling represents another major setback despite weeks of diplomatic engagement by Sofia, interventions at Bulgaria’s highest political level and efforts to bring the case to the attention of European institutions.
🚨🇧🇬 NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has personally assured Bulgarian PM Rumen Radev of the Alliance’s full readiness to defend Bulgaria and other NATO members amid reports of a potential risk of aggressive action by Iran.
Radev and Rutte spoke by phone today, discussing the security environment in Europe with particular attention to claims in foreign media concerning a possible Iranian threat.
According to the Bulgarian government, Rutte confirmed the full support and readiness of NATO forces and defence assets deployed in the region to respond to and neutralise any threat against Allied territory.
The statement pointed to the recent successful interception of ballistic missiles heading towards Türkiye as evidence of NATO’s defensive readiness.
The message on collective defence was explicit: any attack against a NATO member would be treated as an attack against the Alliance, triggering the measures arising from the North Atlantic Treaty.
The call comes amid heightened attention in Sofia to regional air and missile defence and the protection of Bulgarian territory following recent security incidents in the wider Black Sea region.
🚨🇧🇬🇷🇸 Bulgaria’s MFA has taken urgent diplomatic action with Serbia after major forest fires across the border caused heavy smoke and deteriorating air quality across parts of Western Bulgaria, reaching from the Serbian border towards Sofia.
Strong smoke has been reported across parts of Sofia, Kyustendil and Pernik regions as a result of forest fires burning on Serbian territory.
Bulgaria’s diplomatic missions in Belgrade and Niš are now maintaining continuous contact with the competent Serbian authorities to clarify the situation.
The Bulgarian Embassy in Belgrade has formally delivered a verbal note requesting information about the fire burning in the cross-border area.
Bulgaria has also offered assistance to Serbia in fighting the wildfire.
The incident has had a direct environmental impact inside Bulgaria, with smoke from the fires degrading air quality across a significant part of the west of the country, including towards the capital.
The MFA says it will continue monitoring developments and provide further information as the situation evolves.
🚨🇧🇬🇲🇰 Bulgaria is preparing to formally deliver a protest note to North Macedonia over the case of Iva Mihailova, PM Rumen Radev announced, marking a further diplomatic escalation in the case.
Radev said the Bulgarian MFA has already prepared the note and that it will be officially presented.
“Bulgaria does not interfere in the judicial proceedings of other countries,” Radev stressed, but described the overall treatment of Mihailova as being “contrary to common sense and elementary humanitarian principles.”
The Prime Minister said Bulgarian institutions remain in continuous contact with Mihailova, her family and her mother, while Bulgaria’s Embassy in Skopje and its consul continue providing assistance on the ground.
Significantly, Radev confirmed that the Bulgarian state has assumed responsibility for Mihailova’s legal defense.
“The state took over the legal defence — the Bulgarian state took it over,” he said.
According to Radev, active talks are also underway at Foreign Ministry level in an effort to prevent the situation from continuing.
The Prime Minister thanked Bulgarian MPs for bringing the case and developments surrounding it to wider European attention. His comments come after Bulgarian MEPs formally addressed European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, urging EU scrutiny of Mihailova’s access to medical treatment, fundamental rights and the rule-of-law implications of the case.
Radev also thanked President Iliana Yotova for taking what he described as a “clear and categorical position at the highest level.”
Yotova previously revealed that she had personally raised Mihailova’s case with North Macedonia’s President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova and Foreign Minister Timčo Mucunski and proposed that, if Mihailova could not be permitted to travel to Bulgaria, a Bulgarian medical team should be allowed to examine her in North Macedonia.
The announcement of an official protest note adds a new state-to-state diplomatic dimension to a case that has already reached Bulgaria’s highest political institutions and is now being raised at European level.
Radev reiterated that Sofia is not seeking to intervene in North Macedonia’s judicial process, but made clear that Bulgaria considers the treatment of Mihailova unacceptable on fundamental humanitarian grounds.
🚨🇧🇬🇪🇺 Bulgarian Members of the European Parliament have formally raised the case of 22-year-old Iva Mihailova with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, calling for urgent European attention over access to medical treatment, fundamental rights and rule-of-law concerns in North Macedonia.
In a letter dated 13 August, the MEPs argue that the case is “first and foremost an urgent humanitarian matter” because of the risk of lasting neurological impairment, while stressing that it also raises wider questions concerning proportionality, the functioning of the judiciary and the protection of Bulgarians in an EU candidate country.
A central focus of the letter is the evolution of the reasoning used by the Basic Court in Kočani.
The MEPs note that in March the Court cited the absence of an opinion from the University Clinical Centre in Skopje confirming that Mihailova’s required treatment could not be performed in North Macedonia.
That evidence was subsequently obtained.
According to the letter, a medical consilium at the University Clinical Centre confirmed on 23 July that Mihailova suffers from paraplegia and tetraplegia, that there is a neurological indication for implantation of a lumbar baclofen pump, and — crucially — that the intervention is not performed in North Macedonia and she should therefore be referred abroad.
Despite this, the Court rejected another request on 7 August, this time finding that the evidence did not establish that her condition was critical, life-threatening, deteriorating or required emergency treatment.
The Bulgarian MEPs say this raises “a serious question as to the consistency and proportionality of the judicial assessment,” arguing that evidence previously identified as missing was produced only for a “different and considerably higher threshold” to subsequently be applied.
They stress that Mihailova is not seeking to terminate the criminal proceedings against her. The request concerns the temporary return of her passport specifically to undergo medical treatment abroad, potentially subject to safeguards ensuring her continued participation in the proceedings.
The letter also explicitly invokes Article 2 of Protocol No. 4 to the European Convention on Human Rights — freedom to leave any country — arguing that restrictions imposed in connection with criminal proceedings must remain necessary and proportionate.
The MEPs additionally ask European institutions to scrutinise allegations surrounding the proceedings, including alleged witness intimidation, and to establish beyond doubt that Mihailova’s Bulgarian identity and citizenship have played no role in her treatment.
They call on the EU institutions to raise the case directly with Skopje, monitor the proceedings and handling of medical evidence, seek clarification over the changing evidentiary threshold, and reflect the case in the Commission’s monitoring of North Macedonia on judicial independence, fundamental rights, non-discrimination and rule-of-law standards.
Importantly, the letter explicitly says this is **not** a request for Brussels to determine Mihailova’s guilt or innocence or interfere with judicial independence.
Instead, the MEPs argue that judicial independence cannot prevent EU institutions from examining whether fundamental-rights safeguards and proportionality standards are functioning effectively in a candidate country.
Their warning is ultimately about time:
“If neurological damage becomes irreversible, no subsequent judicial or political remedy will be capable of restoring what has been lost.”
The Bulgarian MEPs therefore ask von der Leyen and the European institutions to treat the case “with the urgency it requires.”
🇧🇬🌍 Bulgaria is seeking to deepen its engagement with the Arab world, with Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova meeting today with ambassadors of Arab states accredited to Sofia.
Petrova presented the Bulgarian government’s foreign-policy priorities and strategic vision, describing Bulgaria’s relations with Arab countries as a friendship built on trust, mutual respect and a shared commitment to peace and stability.
“One of our main objectives is to transform the established political dialogue into practical cooperation of mutual interest,” Petrova said.
The discussion focused on expanding trade and investment, innovation and digital technologies, alongside closer economic cooperation.
A major emphasis was placed on connectivity between Europe, the Middle East and the Gulf. Bulgaria wants to develop sustainable energy, transport and digital links connecting the regions, with Petrova arguing that the country’s geographic position and existing transport and energy infrastructure give it significant potential to serve as a bridge between markets, investments and people.
The meeting also addressed the security situation in the Middle East and its wider international consequences.
Petrova stressed the importance of diplomacy, dialogue and respect for international law in achieving sustainable de-escalation and lasting peace.
Freedom and security of navigation along strategic maritime routes were another key issue, alongside international diplomatic efforts to prevent conflicts from expanding further and the need for an effective response to the severe humanitarian situation affecting some countries in the region.
The meeting signals Sofia’s intention to combine its political engagement with Arab partners with a stronger economic and connectivity agenda, particularly across energy, transport, investment and emerging technologies.
🚨🇧🇬🇺🇦 Bulgaria has formally raised the Kardam drone incident with Ukraine, with Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova summoning the Ukrainian Ambassador for talks at the MFA.
According to Bulgaria’s preliminary assessment, the UAV that entered Bulgarian airspace near Kardam was most likely a “Maya” decoy drone used by the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Petrova expressed Bulgaria’s “serious concern” over the incident and stressed that any unauthorized entry into Bulgarian airspace is unacceptable.
Sofia has requested that Ukraine provide all available information that could help establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident. Petrova also made clear that Bulgaria expects the necessary measures to be taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The two sides discussed the need for direct and effective communication channels between their competent authorities.
Ukraine’s Ambassador expressed “deep concern” over the incident and stressed that Ukraine had not intentionally directed any UAVs toward Bulgaria. She confirmed Kyiv’s readiness to provide full cooperation with the investigation.
Bulgaria is simultaneously maintaining contact with Romania over the incident.
Significantly, Petrova has also informed the foreign ministers of all EU member states about the drone’s entry into Bulgarian airspace and the measures subsequently taken by Sofia.
The issue will now move to the NATO level, with the latest information on the incident due to be exchanged among Allies on Wednesday.
Bulgaria reiterated that it will continue to defend its sovereignty and the security of its citizens, while maintaining its position that ending the hostilities and achieving a just and sustainable peace through diplomatic efforts are essential for regional security and stability.
🚨🇧🇬🇲🇰 President Iliana Yotova has revealed that she personally raised the case of Iva Mihailova with North Macedonia’s President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova and Foreign Minister Timčo Mucunski two months ago — and says she is still waiting for the response promised by Skopje.
According to Yotova, during meetings in Bulgaria she was presented with arguments as to why North Macedonian authorities could not secure Mihailova’s travel to Bulgaria for treatment, citing the independence of the country’s judiciary and the absence of judicial authorization.
Yotova said she therefore proposed an alternative: allowing a Bulgarian team of doctors and specialists to travel to North Macedonia and examine Mihailova there.
The Bulgarian President stressed that such a mission would require cooperation from North Macedonian authorities and hospitals, particularly in Skopje, allowing Bulgarian and North Macedonian medical specialists to jointly assess her condition and determine where she could best receive treatment.
But Yotova says Sofia has received no answer.
“Since April, I have had no response,” she said, adding that Mucunski had personally promised to provide one regardless of what the decision was.
“To this moment, as we Bulgarians say — neither word nor trace.”
Yotova said she would renew the request to the North Macedonian government and President Siljanovska, who she said had also personally made a commitment on the issue.
Her strongest criticism concerned the possibility that the continuing situation could leave Mihailova permanently disabled.
Yotova said it would be unacceptable for “a young girl to become disabled simply because we remain captive to ideologies on the part of our partners from North Macedonia which are absolutely unacceptable in the 21st century.”
The intervention significantly raises the political level of the case, following Bulgaria’s MFA statement expressing serious concern over Mihailova’s inability for more than six months to access the prescribed treatment for her severe neurological condition.
🇧🇬 President Iliana Yotova has warned that Bulgaria has significant gaps in its counter-drone capabilities, a day after an unidentified UAV entered Bulgarian airspace and crashed near Kardam.
“We have many blind spots when it comes to the availability of systems capable of countering drones,” Yotova said, warning that UAV technology is becoming increasingly sophisticated.
The President called for stronger state support for Bulgarian companies developing drones and counter-drone systems, describing the sector as an unavoidable part of the future of defence.
“This is the future, however difficult it may be to admit it. And we have a lot of catching up to do.”
Yotova said she had received assurances from the Chief of Defence and the Ministry of Defence that Bulgaria’s strategic sites are currently protected.
However, she acknowledged that the country has insufficient resources to address the emerging threat comprehensively.
“Bulgaria has insufficient resources in this regard. A major reform and a different way of thinking are needed,” Yotova said.
Her comments come as Bulgaria reassesses its air-defence and counter-UAV capabilities following the Kardam incident, with the military already reinforcing radar coverage and air-defence readiness and preparing additional investments in specialized counter-drone systems.
🚨🇧🇬 UPDATE: Bulgaria’s Chief of Defence Admiral Emil Eftimov says there is no indication that the drone which entered Bulgarian airspace and crashed near Kardam this morning was deliberately directed against Bulgaria.
Eftimov, who personally visited the crash site, said specialists have identified the UAV as a “Maya”-type decoy drone — not a Shahed, as had initially been considered.
According to the Chief of Defence, the working assumption is that the drone may have been diverted by electronic warfare systems before taking a course outside radar coverage and eventually entering Bulgarian territory from the direction of Romania.
Such drones can reportedly carry up to 5 kg of explosives.
No casualties or material damage were caused. Bulgarian specialists have photographed the wreckage and collected material for further technical assessment.
Eftimov also revealed that he discussed the incident with his Romanian counterpart, who confirmed that Romanian systems had been unable to detect the drone.
The incident is now highlighting a broader vulnerability: detecting small UAVs in peacetime conditions.
According to Eftimov, even modern conventional radars are not sufficiently effective against such small targets. Specialized counter-drone radars may detect them at only around 4–5 km, leaving an extremely limited reaction window.
Bulgaria had already reinforced its air-defence posture at the end of July following increased interceptions of Shahed-type drones near the Romanian-Ukrainian border. Air-defence assets were redeployed, radar surveillance strengthened and additional aviation placed on alert.
The Bulgarian Armed Forces are also working with several domestic companies on counter-UAV technologies, with Eftimov saying that some progress has already been achieved. A dedicated counter-drone project has been included under the EU SAFE mechanism.
Bulgaria will additionally host a NATO-related counter-drone experiment in October, providing Bulgarian defence companies with an opportunity to demonstrate their systems.
Eftimov stressed that similar incidents have occurred in Romania, Türkiye and the Baltic states and described them as a consequence of ongoing warfare in the wider region.
“This is the current reality,” he said, emphasizing that both NATO and European countries are rapidly adapting their detection and counter-UAV capabilities.
For now, Bulgaria’s military assessment is clear: no evidence of an intentional action against Bulgarian territory, while the precise circumstances that brought the drone across the border remain under investigation.
🚨🇧🇬 DRONE INCIDENT: An unidentified drone entered Bulgarian airspace from the direction of Romania this morning and exploded approximately 100 metres inside Bulgarian territory near Kardam, prompting an emergency meeting of Bulgaria’s Security Council.
According to PM Rumen Radev, the incident occurred at approximately 08:10 local time. No casualties or damage to buildings or infrastructure have been reported.
The location is notable: the explosion occurred around 200 metres from a Romanian compressor station and approximately 1 km from the Bulgarian compressor station of the Trans-Balkan Gas Pipeline.
Bulgarian Border Police, National Police and Ministry of Defence teams have secured the area and are working to identify the type and origin of the drone.
Radev said Romanian border authorities had registered the sound of a drone before a Bulgarian Border Police patrol near General Toshevo subsequently heard a powerful explosion.
At this stage, however, neither Bulgarian nor Romanian air-surveillance systems have reportedly confirmed detecting an unidentified drone, while Bulgaria has received no relevant information from NATO’s Combined Air Operations Centre responsible for monitoring the airspace over Southern Europe.
Following the incident, Bulgaria’s Ministry of Defence further reinforced radar coverage and surveillance in the area.
Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov revealed that Bulgaria had already strengthened its air-defence posture on 31 July following incidents in which Romanian Air Force units shot down drones.
Beyond the traditional air-policing configuration involving MiG-29 fighters and surface-to-air missile systems, Bulgaria has deployed additional air-defence assets, Cougar helicopters and Su-25 aircraft, while strengthening radar coverage with additional stations.
Authorities are now preparing another reinforcement along Bulgaria’s borders. Border Police units equipped with capabilities for drone detection and counteraction are expected to be deployed along the axis stretching from the Turkish border to the Romanian border.
The investigation into the drone’s type and origin remains ongoing.
🇧🇬🇲🇰 Bulgaria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a strongly worded statement after the Basic Court in Kočani again refused to allow Iva Mihailova to receive the medical treatment she requires abroad.
According to the Bulgarian MFA, the court's latest decision extends a situation that has prevented Mihailova from accessing timely treatment for a diagnosed severe neurological condition for more than six months.
The ministry noted that the competent health authorities in North Macedonia have already concluded both that her prescribed treatment cannot be provided domestically and that it should be carried out in another country.
Sofia called for Mihailova to receive immediate access to adequate medical care, warning that further delays pose a real risk of permanent and irreversible damage to her health.
The Bulgarian MFA also invoked the European Convention on Human Rights, pointing to obligations related to the right to life, the prohibition of inhuman or degrading treatment, and the right to an effective legal remedy.
The statement further linked the case to broader rule of law concerns, noting that the European Commission has repeatedly identified shortcomings in North Macedonia's judicial system and stressing that respect for the rule of law remains a fundamental condition for progress in the country's EU accession process.
The ministry concluded that protecting the lives and rights of Bulgarian citizens and persons of Bulgarian identity abroad remains a permanent priority and pledged to continue using all available international mechanisms to support Iva Mihailova in her pursuit of what it described as a dignified life.
Read more on the case in our previous post
🇧🇬🇲🇰 Bulgaria's Foreign Ministry has detailed its assistance to Bulgarian citizen and Macedonian Bulgarian Iva Mihailova following an incident near Kočani, North Macedonia, while raising concerns about aspects of the legal proceedings and highlighting the serious deterioration of her medical condition.
According to the Ministry, Mihailova sought assistance from the Bulgarian Embassy in Skopje in late March 2026 after being accused in connection with a traffic incident which she maintains she did not cause.
⚖️ Through Bulgaria's legal assistance program, authorities provided the services of one of North Macedonia's leading defense lawyers, Naser Raufi, free of charge and initiated diplomatic efforts to clarify the circumstances of the case.
🏥 Bulgarian institutions also facilitated the transfer of her medical records to Sofia for review by specialists at a leading Bulgarian medical facility.
According to information provided by Mihailova, her legal and medical team, she suffers from fractures of the L4 and L5 vertebrae, progressive paraplegia, and worsening neurological symptoms, including daily numbness and weakness in her left leg.
❗Mihailova states that she has not received the necessary rehabilitation and specialized treatment while in North Macedonia and that medical procedures required for her condition are not available there.
She further argues that she has been prevented from traveling to Bulgaria to receive treatment, including Intrathecal Baclofen Therapy, despite the progressive deterioration of her condition.
The Bulgarian side secured official medical documentation through the Ministry of Health confirming both the necessity of treatment and the possibility for that treatment to be conducted in Bulgaria. A new request has been prepared for submission to the court in Kočani seeking permission for treatment.
The Foreign Ministry stated that its review of the available documentation raises questions as to whether all relevant facts, evidence and witness testimony have been fully examined and weighed during the proceedings.
🗣️ The Ministry noted that information exists which could potentially challenge or cast doubt on elements of the prosecution's case.
The case has attracted particular attention in Bulgaria because Mihailova identifies as a Macedonian Bulgarian. According to her supporters and sources close to the proceedings, her Bulgarian national identity has become a factor in the case. Allegations have been raised that she is viewed by some local actors as coming from a "Bulgarophile family" and that this has contributed to a hostile environment surrounding the proceedings.
According to her supporters and sources close to the case, there have also been attempts by third parties connected to the proceedings to pressure her into accepting responsibility for the accident despite her continued insistence that she is not at fault.
They allege that she has been encouraged not to speak publicly about the case, to admit guilt, to accept liability for damages and to agree to a probationary sentence rather than continue challenging the accusations in court.
Her supporters argue that prejudice against her Bulgarian identity has further complicated her legal situation and access to medical treatment.
The case has become one of the most closely followed consular and human-rights issues in Bulgarian–North Macedonian relations, touching on concerns about due process, access to healthcare, the treatment of Macedonian Bulgarians and the protection of Bulgarian citizens abroad.
🗣️ “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to monitor the development of the case and provide, within its competencies, the necessary assistance and support to Ms. Mihailova.”
🇧🇬🇺🇸 Bulgaria and the United States discussed expanding energy cooperation during a phone conversation between Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev and U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright.
According to the Bulgarian government, the talks focused on strategic energy issues including diversification of energy supplies in Southeast Europe, strengthening regional connectivity, the development of the Vertical Gas Corridor, and cooperation on new nuclear capacity at Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant using U.S. technology.
The two sides also discussed opportunities linked to the development of large-scale data centers and artificial intelligence infrastructure, highlighting the growing connection between energy security and the digital economy.
Radev and Wright agreed that energy policies should support both long-term sector stability and economic competitiveness.
The Bulgarian Prime Minister also emphasized the importance of maintaining uninterrupted operations at the Burgas refinery, describing its continuity as significant for Bulgaria and the wider region.
The conversation highlights the expanding strategic dimension of the Bulgaria–U.S. partnership, linking energy security, nuclear technology, regional connectivity and emerging AI infrastructure.
🇧🇬🇲🇰 Bulgarian National Assembly Speaker Michaela Dotsova held talks in Sofia with her North Macedonian counterpart Afrim Gashi on the sidelines of the 13th Plenary Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP PA).
The meeting combined a positive tone on bilateral cooperation with a firm reiteration of Bulgaria's long-standing position on North Macedonia's EU accession.
According to the Bulgarian Parliament, Dotsova raised concerns over what she described as the recent increase in anti-Bulgarian incidents in North Macedonia, including the recent attack on vehicles belonging to the Bulgarian diplomatic mission. While welcoming the swift arrest of the suspected perpetrator, she stressed that Sofia expects a fair judicial outcome.
Dotsova also reaffirmed that the full implementation of the July 2022 European Consensus remains the only path for North Macedonia to advance in its EU accession process. She stated that the agreed commitments are not open to renegotiation and reiterated Bulgaria's expectation that Skopje implement the required constitutional amendments.
Beyond enlargement, the two speakers discussed expanding parliamentary dialogue, implementation of Corridor VIII, increasing investment and cooperation in culture, youth policy and sport.
Following the meeting, Dotsova described the discussions as "positive and constructive" and welcomed Gashi's expressed willingness to strengthen inter-parliamentary cooperation.
For his part, Gashi said his visit reflected North Macedonia's commitment to improving good-neighbourly relations and deepening dialogue with Bulgaria. He emphasized that EU integration remains a strategic priority for Skopje, adding that "we must move forward and find a way to be together in the European Union."
The meeting concluded with Gashi inviting Speaker Dotsova to lead an official parliamentary delegation to Skopje.
🇧🇬🇺🇸 Bulgarian FM Velislava Petrova hosted a high-level delegation from the United States Department of Homeland Security led by Deputy Under Secretary John Gountanis, with officials from the United States Department of State also participating.
According to the Bulgarian MFA, Petrova described the visit as a strong acknowledgment of Bulgaria's progress in meeting U.S. security requirements for entry into the Visa Waiver Program.
She argued that lifting tourist visa requirements for Bulgarian citizens would better reflect the strategic partnership between Bulgaria and the United States, while ensuring greater reciprocity in bilateral relations.
The discussions focused on the remaining steps needed to finalize Bulgaria's accession to the Visa Waiver Program. According to the MFA, the principal outstanding legal requirement remains reducing the U.S. tourist visa refusal rate for Bulgarian applicants below the statutory 3% threshold.
The meeting marks another high-level engagement on the visa issue, which has become one of the Bulgarian government's top priorities in its dialogue with Washington over recent weeks.
🇧🇬🇲🇰🇪🇺Bulgarian President Iliana Yotova said recent developments surrounding the European Parliament's report on North Macedonia reinforce that the country's EU accession challenge is no longer a bilateral dispute with Bulgaria, but an issue between Skopje and the European Union over the implementation of commitments already agreed by all Member States.
Commenting on the debate surrounding the report prepared by European Parliament rapporteur Thomas Waitz, Yotova noted that although the report is a non-binding political resolution, it carries significant political weight because it reflects the positions of EU institutions and Member States regarding North Macedonia's accession process.
According to Yotova, all of her recent discussions with European leaders and ambassadors have confirmed that there is no intention within the European Union to reopen or renegotiate the accession framework agreed in 2022. She stressed that the European consensus adopted that year—including the constitutional inclusion of Bulgarians in North Macedonia—is regarded by EU partners as the existing framework for moving the accession process forward.
Yotova questioned whether the current political leadership in North Macedonia genuinely seeks EU membership, arguing that it is difficult to explain what she described as a self-imposed political blockade of the accession process.
"The problem is not with Bulgaria," she said. "If there is a problem, it is between the Republic of North Macedonia and the European Union."
Referring to her recent meeting in Sofia with President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova and Foreign Minister Timčo Mucunski during the Summit of the South-East European Cooperation Process, Yotova said she was surprised to hear representatives of the current government argue that they do not recognize commitments undertaken by previous administrations.
She rejected that position, stressing that international agreements are obligations of the state rather than of individual governments.
"The signature is not personal—it is a commitment of the state," Yotova said, arguing that respect for previously undertaken international obligations is a fundamental principle of predictability and credibility expected from every country seeking membership in the European Union.