Bulgaria: Tensions over residences latest episode in Peevski vs Dogan clash
There was a shoving match on August 30 between supporters of Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) founder Ahmed Dogan and police at the residence in Sofia’s Boyana neighbourhood, the latest episode in the power struggle between MRF parliamentary leader Delyan Peevski and Dogan.
On August 29, Peevski ally, former cabinet minister Danail Papazov said that Dogan should vacate the residences in Boyana and Rosenets that Dogan had used for years.
Papazov said that the residences were owned by his companies and Dogan was not entitled to use them. The Dogan camp later countered that there were rental contracts.
Dogan supporters from all over Bulgaria began flocking to the residences on the night to August 29, and continued to do so on August 30.
Supporters of Dogan said that unidentified people had entered the residence in Boyana and it was not known whether they had taken something in or removed items.
On Friday afternoon, the shoving match followed supporters of Dogan trying to enter the residence in Boyana.
Dogan’s son Demir also came to the scene in Boyana, with Dogan’s supporters saying that Demir Dogan should be admitted to the building because his father had property inside.
Caretaker Interior Minister Atanas Ilkov told reporters that a government security committee would meet to assess whether Ahmed Dogan was in danger, and whether the National Security Service should be deployed to protect Dogan.
Earlier episodes in the conflict between Peevski and Dogan included this week’s announcement by Dogan that Peevski and his allies in Parliament and in regional structures had been expelled from the MRF.
This announcement was followed soon afterwards by Papazov’s, that Dogan should vacate the two residences.
The Peevski-Dogan conflict comes as Bulgaria heads to its latest early parliamentary elections, with the two camps clashing over who will decide on the MRF’s election candidates.
(Screenshot via BNT)
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