site.btaCourt Sets Ataka MPs Free on 6,000 Leva Bail Each

Court Sets Ataka MPs Free on 6,000 Leva  Bail Each

Sofia, November 18 (BTA) - In a session that ended in the early hours of Wednesday the Sofia City Court released from remand Ataka leader Volen Siderov and fellow party member and MP Dessislav Choukolov on bail of 6,000 leva each.

The Court found the arrest of the two unlawful. The Court panel argued that although the two had committed extremely arrogant acts violating public order, the crime that they are charged with is not heavy.

Siderov and Choukolov were arrested Tuesday 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.

Siderov's defence said that the arrest was unlawful because the charges pressed against him were different from the reason for demanding the waiver of his immunity as an MP. The Court rejected the claim.

At the start of the hearing the two MPs refused to give their addresses saying they were afraid of being killed.

The Court's decision is appealable.