Ethnic Turkish Chief to Sue Bulgarian PM for Slander

Ahmed Dogan is the honorary, lifetime chairman of the ethnic Turkish party Movement for Rights and Freedoms. Photo by BGNES

The honorary chairman of the ethnic Turkish party Movement for Rights and Freedoms, DPS, Ahmed Dogan, is considering suing outgoing Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov, for slander.

The news was reported Friday by the Bulgarian Standard daily.

On Thursday, speaking from the parliamentary rostrum just minutes after parliament accepted with overwhelming majority the resignation of the government of his Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria party, GERB, Borisov shockingly stated Dogan, wanted him dead, citing a document from the intelligence of a foreign country.

He said he learned about a plotted assassination attempt on his life just two weeks ago. The attempt on the outgoing PM's life, dating from the summer of 2009, just ahead of the previous general election, stemmed from him inflicting on the interests of a powerful, international organized crime group.

Borisov's words prompted an immediate and outraged reaction of DPS leader, Lyutvi Mestan, who issued a declaration on behalf of all followers and supporters of his party, labeling the information a threat to ethnic peace in the country and an attempt to ritually discredit Dogan.

Mestan came close to accusing Borisov of lying, stressing if any of his claims were true that would have become public a long time ago.

Meanwhile, a number of Bulgarian intelligence chiefs gave contradicting reports on the alleged tipoff.

On Wednesday, Borisov made the stunning announcement he was resigning, grounding the decision on not wanting to see blood on streets and fences around the building of the Parliament. He said he was returning the power to the people who elected him in the summer of 2009.

The breaking news about Borisov's resignation came in the aftermath of large-scale protests across the country against high utility bills, leading to clashes with riot police with many injuries and vandalism.

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