site.btaDRF Floor Leader Chakarov Demands Answers over Police Actions in Boyana

"We will alert all competent authorities regarding the actions of the police yesterday [Saturday] in Boyana. We want answers to the question of whether the aggressive actions were ordered by the police leadership or came from the political and professional leadership of the Interior Ministry," Democracy, Rights and Freedoms (DRF) parliamentary floor leader Dzhevdet Chakarov told reporters on Sunday. Chakarov made the statement alongside representatives of the youth wing and party MPs in front of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) headquarters in Sofia. He added that they expected a response later on Sunday from Interior Minister Daniel Mitov regarding how the operation unfolded.

On Saturday, activists from the youth wing of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) claim they were forcibly removed by police from the residence of Ahmed Dogan, founder and former honorary chair of the party, in the Boyana district of Sofia. Valentin Tonchev, a former MP loyal to Dogan, told reporters that they had been invited by Dogan to the property to hold a National Council meeting of MRF’s youth wing. According to Tonchev, the house has long been the location where the MRF holds meetings and conducts all key activities, including nominations for mayors, members of parliament, and general party life. Later on Saturday, former transport minister Danail Papazov, representing Delta Epsilon Ltd., the property’s owner, said that Ahmed Dogan and a group of his political supporters allegedly forced their way into the property, bypassing the security of the premises.

Chakarov described the police actions as extremely aggressive. "These young people did not deserve such treatment. It is unacceptable and intolerable. We will alert not only the competent authorities but also the ambassadors of EU and NATO member states," he warned.

Asked whether DRF would reconsider its support for Rosen Zhelyazkov’s cabinet, Chakarov said that this would be carefully assessed. "But once again, we will act responsibly as a party, standing firmly for democratic principles – without compromise. We supported this government in the name of the country’s key priorities, and we are aware of our responsibilities. There will be no emotional response, only a principled one," he explained.

"This cannot go further. We demand answers from our coalition partners as well. They lead certain ministries, and it is necessary for them to issue statements. Yesterday, no one called us — there was no communication," Chakarov added, pointing to a serious issue within the governing majority – a communication deficit.

"We are ready for dialogue – but a principled and public one. The people we represent do not deserve such treatment, and we will not allow it. We are among those who accelerated democratic processes during the totalitarian era, we were at the core of the peaceful transition. Democracy is now at risk," Chakarov concluded.

DRF is the parliamentary group of the Alliance for Rights and Freedoms (ARF) coalition, which was created by former MRF members loyal to Ahmed Dogan after the 2024 rift in the party between Dogan and Delyan Peevski. MRF's youth wing also took Dogan's side in the rift between the two.

On March 21, 2025, the Sofia Administrative Court Friday announced rejecting a petition by Ahmed Dogan against a decision of the National Patent Office, which rejected Dogan's claim on the MRF trademarks. The court decision is appealable at the Supreme Administrative Court.

In August 2024, the Patent Office received an application by Dogan for the transfer to himself alone the rights to use several trademarks related to MRF. On October 18, 2024 the Patent Office refused to do the transfer. It was a major stage in a feud between Dogan and Peevski, Dogan's one-time right-hand man and MRF co-chair, who now leads his own parliamentary group, MRF - New Beginning, that grew out of one of the two rival MRF factions.

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.