Bulgaria receives North Macedonia’s request for the arrest and extradition of Iva Mihaylova

On October 13 the Directorate for International Operational Cooperation received a message from Interpol Skopje requesting an international search, arrest and extradition of Iva Mihaylova, who holds both Bulgarian and North Macedonian citizenship. The message states that Mihaylova is standing trial for violating traffic regulations, an offence punishable under North Macedonian law. An arrest warrant was issued against her by the court in Kochani on the same date - October 13, 2026.

The Bulgarian authorities have not taken any action to establish Mihaylova’s whereabouts in Bulgaria. The Directorate for International Operational Cooperation also clarified that no Interpol Red Notice has been issued for her at this time.

The directorate recalled that Bulgaria’s Constitution stipulates that a Bulgarian citizen cannot be surrendered to another state or an international court for criminal prosecution, unless this is provided for in an international treaty that has been ratified, promulgated and entered into force in Bulgaria.

The European Convention on Extradition also states that each contracting party has the right to refuse the extradition of its own citizens.