Borissov on Siderov incident: Let Parliament and prosecutors do their job
Bulgarian Prime Minister Boiko Borissov said on October 11 that he did not want to comment on the late-night incident in which Ataka leader Volen Siderov was involved, lest he be accused of influencing prosecutors.
On the night of October 9, Siderov and Desislav Chukulov, an MP for the far-right party, were involved in a confrontation with shopkeepers in Sofia’s Rakovski Street. Prosecutors, having interviewed eyewitnesses, want the two MPs’ immunity from prosecution removed so that Siderov and Chukulov can face charges of hooliganism.
Eyewitnesses quoted in various Bulgarian media report said that Siderov and Chukulov both appeared drunk and assaulted various people, including a police officer, the shopkeepers and members of the media who came to the scene. Ataka has denied wrongdoing on the part of Siderov and Chukulov.
Borissov, questioned by reporters, said that given that Ataka was an opposition party (Siderov’s party is one of the two smallest in the Bulgarian Parliament), he would abstain from commenting to avoid being accused of influencing the decisions of prosecutors.
“Let us leave Parliament and the prosecutor’s office to do their jobs,” Borissov said, referring to the fact that it will require a vote by the National Assembly to agree to remove the immunity from prosecution of the two MPs.
Referring to allegations by Siderov that the shop was selling contraband and illegal drugs (a check by police at the time of the incident found no such items), Borissov said that results in the fight against smuggling, results were very visible. He said that it was up to the relevant services to conduct checks and to prove or disprove allegations.
(Photo via the Facebook page Boyko Borissov)
