Bulgaria Ethnic Turks Leader Attacks Leading Journalist in Letter

Ahmed Dogan, leader of Bulgaria’s ethnic Turkish party DPS, has released an open letter slamming journalist Valeria Veleva in response to an article she wrote.

Last Sunday, Veleva’s paper, the Trud Daily, published a report claiming that during the term of the three-way coalition (2005-2009), Dogan, whose party DPS (Movement for Rights and Freedoms) was in the government, received BGN 1,5 M as a consultant of the Tsankov Kamak hydro power plant project.

A couple of days later, Veleva published a commentary in the same newspaper entitled “Money Is Dragging down Dogan and the DPS” in which she criticized the ethnic Turkish party for being involved in murky deals with state money.

In his open letter, Ahmed Dogan refers to journalist Valeria Veleva as “Madam V”. The ethnic Turkish leader claims that Veleva is staging an attack against his party because the DPS rejected her recent offer to be a “secret PR officer” of the party by writing articles in its favor.

“Only a month ago you renewed your offer to be our secret PR agent. My colleagues were aware that you have no knowledge of PR strategies, you only want to get paid for your “favorable tone” with respect to us. I know that you are no exception in this respect. But I cannot fathom who made you believe that you can be the moral pillar of the society,” Dogan says to “Madam V” apparently hinting of brown envelope journalism in Bulgaria.

In his letter, Dogan says he is ready to sue Veleva for her publications and refutes the claims that he was involved in any illegal dealings regarding the Tsankov Kamak hydro power project.

“I know that you have an inclination to serve those in power. But remember: everybody has to pay their bill. I will be praying for your. God help you!,” concludes Dogan his letter which was distributed by the press center of his party Thursday.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!