English
Macedonia possesses its own tools and mechanisms for action on the international stage, with the objective of bringing Iva Mihajlova and her father—who has been convicted in a first-instance ruling—to justice. This was stated today by Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski, as he commented on the case of Iva Mihajlova and the Bulgarian authorities’ stance that they will not extradite her.
“The response from the Bulgarian authorities has, first and foremost, debunked the coordinated attacks—originating both from that side and from our own opposition—claiming that some sort of secret deal had been made. We issued a request for an arrest warrant; I expect the individual who has been convicted in a first-instance ruling—Iva’s parent—to be returned, and for Iva herself to come and prove her innocence before the courts in Macedonia. We, too, have our own tools and mechanisms to advocate our position on the international stage.” “I will repeat what I said yesterday: this failed attempt has caused significant damage—diplomatic damage—to the government in Sofia. That is their problem; our task is to bring the fugitive from justice—the man and the woman—before the face of justice. As I stated yesterday—and I reiterate now—sooner or later, that will happen,” said Mickoski, responding to a journalist’s question following the opening of the new “Krste Petkov Misirkov” primary school in Chento.
He noted that an investigation is currently underway and announced that some of the evidence would be presented to Macedonia’s NATO partners, in order to demonstrate the conduct of member states in such instances.