Leader of Bulgaria's Ataka Party Guilty of Inciting Discrimination

18 May 2007

On 21 July 2006, a court in Sofia ruled that Mr Volen Siderov, member of Bulgarian parliament and leader of the ultra-nationalist Ataka party, had breached the prohibition of incitement to discrimination, according to a 31 July report by the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee (BHC). The decision ordered Mr Siderov to refrain from making inflammatory statements or similar actions; Mr Siderov faced a fine of up to 200 Bulgarian leva (approximately 100 EUR). The case against Mr Siderov was filed by the BHC under the Protection against Discrimination Act. Eight other cases have been filed against Mr Siderov under the same act.

(BHC)