site.btaCourt Approves Plea Bargain with Ataka Leader for Hooliganism

Court Approves Plea Bargain with Ataka Leader for Hooliganism

Sofia, March 15 (BTA) - The Sofia City Court approved Monday a plea bargain with Ataka leader Volen Siderov for three hooliganism cases from 2011, 2013 and 2015. The nationalist leader thus admits his guilt for the latest of the incidents: a browl in the National Academy for Cinema and Theatrical Art in October 23, 2015 when he and fellow party member and MP Dessislav Choukolov stormed the building and provoked clashes with acting students.

The plea bargain is for 9-month probation, including registration on a permanent address and meetings with a probation officer, and monthly deductions of 13 per cent from his salary as MP for a period of six months in the place of community service.

In 2011 Siderov interrupted observances of the April Uprising in Batak and in 2013 he assaulted a journalist and a police officer outside the Parliament building in Sofia. On Siderov and Fellow party member and deputy Dessislav Choukolov entered the building of the National Academy of Theatrical and Film Art (NATFA) and clashed with students. Choukolov signed a plea bargain agreement under the same terms.

Fellow party member and deputy Dessislav Choukolov signed a plea bargain under the same terms and only the probation will be three months shorter.

The agreement may no be appealled. The punishment takes effect from March 15.