site.btaProsecution Drops Attempted Murder Charges against Dogan's Attacker

Prosecution Drops Attempted Murder
Charges against
Dogan's Attacker


Sofia, February 20 (BTA) - The prosecution Friday dropped
attempted murder charges against Oktay Enimehmedov and asked the
Supreme Court of Cassation to convict Ahmed Dogan's attacker on
the less serious charges only.

Two years ago, Enimehmedov, 27, was indicted for a wilful
attempt to murder Dogan on January 19, 2013. While Dogan, then
leader of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF), was
reading a report at a MRF national conference, Enimehmedov
pointed a gas pistol at his head and tried to fire three shots
at pointblank range. The gun misfired, Dogan remained unhurt,
and the attacker was arrested.

Prosecutors then argued that the act was committed with
premeditation and remained incompleted for reasons beyond the
actor's control: the jamming of the pistol, the resistance
offered by Dogan, and the intervention of MRF Organizing
Secretary Mustafa Karadayu.

At Friday's court hearing, the prosecution agreed to experts'
conclusions that a person cannot possibly be killed by a gas
pistol fired at more than 10 cm from the target. Moreover, this
type of weapon often jams, as was case with Enimehmedov's
attack.

For his part, the defendant said at the hearing that he wants to
be decorated with the Order of the Balkan Range and called on
the court to question all Bulgarians abroad who have learnt
about what he did.

Enimehmedov is also charged with committing indecent acts
grossly breaching public order and showing flagrant disrespect
for society. While the conference was in progress, he went up
the stage and interrupted the delivery of Dogan's report, three
times ostentatiously pointing a gas pistol at his head. The act
is qualified as "exceedingly daring" because it was committed
during a regulated public event, in the presence of officials,
delegates and guests, and the event was covered by the mass
media.

For most of the time since January 2013, Enimehmedov has been
held in custody before being released into house arrest. The
lower court sentenced him to three and a half years'
imprisonment on the less serious charges. If the Supreme Court
upholds this sentence, the time spent in pre-trial detention
will be subtracted from the term to be served. The Court's
judgment is expected within one month.

On conviction, the dropped attempted murder charges carried
deprivation of liberty for 15 to 20 years, life imprisonment or
life imprisonment without commutation.

"As far as we are concerned, this attack is clear and has been
assessed. This is an assassination attempt. We know that it is.
Suffice it to look at the facts," Mustafa Karadayu MP of the MRF
told journalists in Parliament, approached for comment on the
news that the prosecution has dropped the attempted murder
charges against Enimehmedov. "We should hear the prosecution's
statement, to see what reasons it cites," he added. Karadayu
assumes that Friday's statement is probably an evaluation by the
prosecution of the way in which the case has been investigated
in the course of three years. PK, LI/LG


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