site.btaUPDATED MRF Members Gather in Boyana in Support of Honorary Chair Dogan

Members and supporters of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) wing close to honorary chair Ahmed Dogan gathered on Saturday in Sofia's Boyana suburban neighbourhood in front of one of Ahmed Dogan's residential properties. A dense police cordon has blocked off the approach to the street where the property is located. 

The rule of law is at grave risk, MRF chair Dzhevdet Chakarov said. "It is hardly permissible, since here, in the property where Dogan lived and is living, and there is a lease agreement, to enter the property with an act of self-dealing and we do not know who these people are inside, where there is a lot of documentation of the party, a very large part of the archive is there," he said. Chakarov expressed strong worry on behalf of the gathered MRF members and supporters. 

The MRF chair noted that people have come to protest peacefully and that they would like to know if everything inside is in place and secured. Chakarov said that this would be a march for democracy and is aimed at the normal functioning of democracy in the country, for the rule of law.

Chakarov stressed that there is no explanation for why protesters were pushed back from the line they held on Friday. The protest actions have been taking place since Thursday. 

"Our suggestion yesterday was to have police representatives come in, along with Ahmed Dogan's son, to do an inspection," Chakarov added. He said it was not a question of property or assets, but of violating normal legal frameworks and legal violations. 

Even when there is a rental agreement, the tenant has the right to remove his property, Chakarov noted. 

Supporters have been gathering outside the property in Boyana since Thursday evening. On the same day, Timur Khalilov, an MP, said unidentified people had entered the property. In a letter quoted by BNR, Danail Papazov said that Hermes Solar and Delta Epsilon own real estate in Rosenets Park, Burgas Region, and the Boyana neighbourhood in Sofia. "Ahmed Dogan is not the owner or representative of these companies, he has nothing to do with the properties of the companies, nor does he have any contractual relations related to the use of these properties. Therefore, Ahmed Dogan is staying in them without any reason and should leave them immediately," Papazov said.

Yesterday, during the protest action, tensions escalated between MRF supporters and law enforcement authorities. 

There were also protests in defence of Ahmed Dogan near Rosenets, on the Black Sea.