site.btaCourt Refuses to Strike Delyan Peevski as Movement for Rights and Freedoms Member, Chair

The Sofia City Court (SCC) refused to enter changes on the record of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) in the register of political parties, dismissing a motion to this effect of October 22, 2024, the Court said on Tuesday. The refusal can be appealed before the Supreme Court of Cassation within seven days.

The motion, submitted by Dzhevdet Chakarov, was for the striking off of Delyan Peev as member of the MRF party, chair of the party, and member of the MRF Central Operational Bureau and the MRF Central Council. 

This is the second attempt by the MRF faction around Honorary Chair Ahmed Dogan to oust Peevski. In late 2024, the SCC denied another motion, for Peevski's removal from the Central Operational Bureau, along with Halil Letifov, Iskra Mihaylova-Karparova, Yordan Tsonev, Hamid Hamid, Stanislav Atanasov, Radoslav Revanski, and Erten Anisova.

According to the SCC's reasons, the party's statute does not spell out a procedure regarding the convocation of the Central Operational Bureau and the notification of the sanctioned member of his expulsion. The prosecutor argued that Peevski was not duly informed of the Central Council meeting at which he was expelled.

Peevski and his supporters were expelled from the MRF on August 27, 2024. Peevski dismissed the decision as "contrary to the Statute". In turn, Peevski's faction, which calls itself MRF New Beginning, expelled Dogan and his faithful from the party on November 16, 2024.