site.btaCommission under National Service for Protection to Decide whether Security Risk Exists for MRF Honorary Chair Dogan

A commission to be set up under the National Service for Protection Act will be meeting Friday to decide whether there is any security risk for Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) Honorary Chair Ahmed Dogan, what is the nature of the possible threat and whether it warrants the assigning of a security detail, caretaker Interior Minister Atanas Ilkov told the press Friday.

He said that the Ministry has received an alert - as have the State Agency for National Security and the National Service for Protection - saying that there is alarming information pertaining to the security of the Honorary Chair, with no details about where, how, in what circumstances. "There was nothing about what this threat contained or where it came from," said Ilkov.

He also said that a check into the matter was immediately opened and "must have been completed". Based on the findings of the probe, a commission will meet in the afternoon and make a decision based on the check and the facts and circumstances that have been collected, Ilkov added.

The commission includes the head of the National Service for Protection, the State Agency for National Security and the Interior Ministry officer who performs the functions of Secretary General.

Earlier on Friday, the Interior Ministry reported that it had responded to two calls for Boyana and Rosenets, made by MRF activists to the 112 emergency line about a security threat to Ahmed Dogan. Police patrols were sent and they found on the properties security guards authorized by the properties' owner to be there. "We called the owner, he confirmed the facts and the police officers were shown the respective documents by the people inside. A casefile was opened," said the Minister.

Also, he said that all that has been reported to the competent prosecution office "so as to eliminate any suspicions in society that the Interior Ministry is being used by one or another politician for their personal goals and agendas". "We are dealing with a strictly private-law dispute and the Interior Ministry should not be involved. We guaranteed public order and prevented an escalation of tension. We did not allow any violation of the law. We will remain there until the matter is resolved."