Vazrazhdane is firmly against the extradition of Iva Mihaylova, saying it is not fair. MP Kosta Stoyanov read the party's position from the podium of the National Assembly. The party wants the government to give her legal, diplomatic and consular protection.
This report follows our earlier story on Mihaylova's arrival in Bulgaria, where she will be treated at Pirogov hospital.
Mihaylova is 23, a Bulgarian citizen from Kochani who openly says she has a Bulgarian identity. She is charged in a road accident case but has not been convicted. Authorities in North Macedonia said yesterday that they are seeking her through an international warrant. She is now in Bulgaria, where she is receiving treatment.
According to Stoyanov, the charge was brought against a girl who was hit by a car that crossed into her lane from the oncoming traffic. The spinal injuries she suffered in the crash last October carry a risk of lasting disability and need specialist treatment, the MP said. He said that instead of a solution that combines treatment with the criminal case, Skopje has chosen detention and a manhunt. The party's parliamentary group called the measures disproportionate.
"Nobody insists that Iva be placed above the law, but criminal proceedings should not become an obstacle to the treatment she needs," Stoyanov said.
The party wants the justice and interior ministries to report to parliament on what has been done about the international warrant, and whether any requests have been made to detain her and hand her over. It expects the foreign ministry to set out Bulgaria's official position to Skopje, and to seek guarantees that officials there will take Mihaylova's health into account in their next steps.
As an example, Stoyanov named Nikola Gruevski, a former prime minister of North Macedonia and long-time leader of the party that now governs the country. In 2018 Gruevski left the country to avoid serving a final prison sentence, and later received more convictions, the MP said. Gruevski is in Hungary, and requests for his extradition have not been met. According to Stoyanov, in eight years Skopje has shown no diplomatic effort comparable to that in the Mihaylova case.
Vazrazhdane also wants to know what is being done to enforce the sentences against Gruevski.
"It is political hypocrisy on the part of the Republic of North Macedonia to turn a blind eye to Gruevski's crimes involving millions," Stoyanov said.