The North Macedonian Foreign Ministry summoned a Bulgarian representative to protest remarks made by Bulgarian officials regarding the case of Iva Mihajlova.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia summoned the Bulgarian Chargé d’Affaires to express dissatisfaction with recent comments made by Bulgarian Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev and Ambassador Zhelyazko Radukov. The Ministry characterized the officials' statements as offensive, provocative, and a form of direct interference in the country’s internal affairs.

Disputed Statements and Extradition

The diplomatic friction centers on the case of Iva Mihajlova. In a recent interview, Bulgarian Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev confirmed that Bulgaria received an extradition request from Macedonian authorities but stated that Sofia has no intention of complying. During his remarks, Demerdzhiev referred to Macedonian state authorities as “Serbian authorities,” a slip he later acknowledged but minimized.

Allegations of Diplomatic Interference

The Ministry also criticized Ambassador Zhelyazko Radukov for comments made to the television channel bTV. Radukov questioned how Mihajlova could have departed the country despite existing judicial restrictions and the confiscation of her travel documents. The Ministry stated that such remarks constitute interference in internal affairs and deviate from the principles of mutual respect and constructive communication required for good-neighborly relations.

Institutional Response

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade noted that such conduct could lead to an institutional response under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. Despite the tensions, the Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to developing relations based on European principles and stated that it expects a corresponding level of responsibility from the Bulgarian side.