English
Doctor Ivan Barbov, the neurologist who treated Iva Mihailova, stated in an interview with that he feels he was exploited by her and that, in his assessment, she exaggerated her health symptoms during public appearances. Barbov confirmed that Mihajlova did have genuine neurological issues following the traffic accident; however, he drew a distinction between the condition he observed during medical examinations and what he later saw in the public sphere.
The woman was involved in a deadly crash a year ago, in which a passenger in the vehicle she collided with died. She was charged with manslaughter, but turned her case into a political drama, as she holds a dual Bulgarian citizenship and Bulgaria jumped at the opportunity to present her as persecuted for her ethnicity and demanded that she is allowed treatment in Bulgaria. Earlier this week she fled to Bulgaria, and her extradition to attend trial is very unlikely.
According to Barbov, who was promoted under the Zaev regime, during the examinations Mihajlova exhibited weakness in her legs, increased muscle tone, and spasms—findings that necessitated further testing and the prescription of therapy. However, after observing her public appearances and her movement outside the hospital setting, he began to question whether the symptoms were being portrayed as more severe than they actually were. Barbov recommended treatment in Bulgaria or Turkey – which Bulgaria used as evidence that Mihajlova can’t receive treatment in Macedonia, and used for propaganda purposes, portraying her as a victim denied proper medical treatment because she self-identifies as Bulgarian.
While Barbov did not rule out the possibility that the symptoms were exaggerated, he did not reach a definitive medical conclusion that Mihajlova was feigning an illness. He also noted that any improvement could have been the result of the medical treatment and physical therapy she received. The doctor confirmed that her medical records had been of interest to the relevant authorities, but he maintained that the medical reports he issued were based strictly on the examinations and tests performed.
When asked directly whether he felt exploited by Mihajlova, he answered in the affirmative. In the interview, Barbov also revealed that the medical report contains an incorrect year, which he claims is a typo. According to his explanation, the hospitalization took place in December 2025, not December 2026. He emphasized that he was unaware of the judicial restrictions imposed on Mihailova when he recommended the continuation of her treatment in Bulgaria, and that he acted in his capacity as a physician obligated to assist a patient.