Sofia City Court Halts Hearing in Ataka Leader Case

Volen Siderov, leader of Bulgaria's far-right nationalist party Ataka, photo by BGNES.

Sofia City Court has halted the hearing of the case against nationalist leader Volen Siderov who is accused of hooliganism and infliction of minor injuries to a police officer.

The hearing was scheduled for Wednesday, October 15, however, the immunity that Siderov was granted after he was appointed as an MP in the 43rd National Assembly has prevented the beginning of the trial.

In July, 2014, the Sofia City Court adjourned the hearing of the case against Siderov because the defendant was not given the legal seven-day period to examine the indictment and to prepare his defense, and also because the police officer Kostadin Kolev failed to appear in court. Then the hearing was scheduled for October 15.

Now that Siderov is protected by parliamentary immunity, it needs to be lifted in order for him to face trial, Bulgaria's National Radio notes.

On January 6, Siderov was involved in a row during a flight where he reportedly insulted the French cultural attach?. Later in the shuttle bus at Varna Airport, Siderov continued with his assault, hitting a policeman and a passenger.

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