site.btaProsecutor General Tsatsarov Will Ask to Have Ataka Leader Siderov, MP Choukolov Stripped of Their Parliamentary Immunity

Prosecutor General Tsatsarov Will Ask to Have Ataka Leader Siderov, MP Choukolov Stripped of Their Parliamentary Immunity

Sofia, October 12 (BTA) - Prosecutor General Sotir Tsatsarov asked to have Ataka leader Volen Siderov and his fellow MP Dessislav Choukolov stripped of their parliamentary immunity, said Tsatsarov's Office on Monday.

Siderov Choukolov were involved in an altercation on Friday evening in central Sofia. A 112 call was made to report MPs being obviously intoxicated and displaying arrogant and rough behaviour towards the owners of a small liquor and tobacco shop. The MPs told the police officers, who arrived at the scene, that the shop is selling contraband cigarettes and drugs, the Interior Ministry said in a Saturday press release, describing the incident.

The verbal attacks continued, despite the efforts made to put an end to the scandal. Economic police officers have searched the premises and did not find any illegal substances or unregulated goods.

Siderov said earlier on Monday that he will sue the Interior Ministry's Chief Secretary, Georgi Kostov, Sofia City Prosecutor Hristo Dinev and the Sofia Chief of Police, Mladen Marinov.

Ataka's leader said that there were no acts of hooliganism committed by him, or his fellow MP Choukolov. According to Siderov, the fact that his name and the name of his fellow MP Choukolov were mentioned in a way linking them to acts of hooliganism is slander, and those behind it will be held responsible. He added that there are no grounds to have his immunity lifted and such a demand would be made up. The Ataka leader said that he will ask for the immunity of whoever asks for his to be lifted and will take the matter to court.

According to the National Assembly's Rules of Organization and Procedure, MPs may not be arrested and shall not be liable to criminal prosecution, save for a committed crime of a general nature, with the permission of the National Assembly or, when the Assembly is not in session, of the National Assembly's Chairperson.

Siderov also said that the police and media are covering up the contraband and drug trade in Sofia.

Sofia City Prosecutor Hristo Dinev told journalists on Saturday that the MPs involved in the incident were Siderov and Choukolov. The evidence gathered so far indicates that persons with immunity have committed hooliganism with exceptional disregard for the law enforcement bodies, whose duty was to maintain public order, Dinev explained.

According to the Interior Ministry's Chief Secretary, Georgi Kostov, the pre-trial proceedings show that the matter involves obscene actions and physical violence, committed by persons with immunity, aimed against police officers who were performing their duties.

Asked to clarify what these actions consisted of, the Sofia City Prosecution Office's Spokesperson, Roumyana Arnaudova, explained that they included shoving, striking police officers, citizens and people who were trying to purchase goods from the store.

The Sofia Chief of Police, Mladen Marinov, commented Saturday that there was an officer who was hit and undergone a medical examination, the results of which have been provided for the pre-trial proceedings. Marinov explained that he was informed that Dessislav Choukolov was the one to strike the police officer, who was performing his duties.

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There is a Monday hearing in Sofia City Court of another case against Volen Siderov about an incident at Varna Airport from last year, in which he is also charged with hooliganism. The Ataka leader did not appear in court and his lawyer, Yavor Notev, left the court room. He said that his client had left the building because the hearing was delayed. Siderov is not legally required to appear in court, Notev explained, adding that his client had called him to inform him that he does not wish the trial to start in his absence. According to Notev, the court started its session regardless and he had no choice but to leave. According to the prosecuting magistracy, Siderov is trying to chicane the trial, which continues despite his absence.