Bulgarian Prosecutor Hints at Possible Nationalist Party Ban

If enough evidence is collected for provoking ethnic and religious hate, the Prosecutor's Office can press charges and even ban the far-right, nationalist Ataka party.

The statement was made by the Sofia City Prosecutor, Nikolay Kokinov, in an interview for the Bulgarian National Television, BNT.

Kokinov further informer he had ordered the District Prosecutor, Alexander Nalbantov, to present to him by Wednesday all materials collected in connection with the incident at the Sofia Banya bashi mosque and the brawl during a live radio show, involving Ataka leader, Volen Siderov.

Nalbantov, on his part, explained his office is collecting evidence for the crime of provoking ethnic hate and preaching hate based on religion, under articles 162 and 164 of the Penal Code, but pointed out it is too early to say this evidence will be enough to launch a legal procedure.

Meanwhile, Steliyana Kozhuharova, spokesperson of Chief Prosecutor, Boris Velchev, informed her boss might ask for Volen Siderov to be stripped from immunity as a Member of the Parliament, but only after the Prosecutor's Office launches a pre-trial procedure.

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