site.btaAtaka Leader Siderov Remains at Large on Bail of 6,000 Leva

Ataka Leader Siderov Remains at Large on Bail of 6,000 Leva

Sofia, November 24 (BTA) - The Sofia Appellate Court Tuesday ruled that Ataka leader Volen Siderov and fellow party member and MP Dessislav Choukolov are to remain at large on bail of 6,000 leva each. The decision is final. The panel reasoned that the two are not about to perpetrate a new crime or to go in hiding. The judges also found that the 12-hour detention of the two was unlawful as at the time of their arrest there was a not danger of two going in hiding.

On November 17 Siderov and Choukolov were arrested for hooliganism. The arrest came after the two were charged with hooliganism involving extreme arrogance and for coercion committed in late October. In the meantime, the two voluntarily gave up their MP immunity.

The Appellate Court also found that enough evidence has been collected vis-a-vis the crimes with which the two are charged with. The judges described the acts of the two MPs as "unseemly, brazen, in grave violation of the public order, and exhibiting brutality, aggressiveness and blatant disrespect to the public".

The judges also reasoned that the gravity of the charges cannot be a prerequisite for leaving the two in detention.

In the court Siderov said that his arrest is an attempt for his political removal and that the prosecuting magistracy wants to vilify him.