Sofia City Court Adjourns First Hearing in Ataka Leader Case

Sofia City Court has adjourned the hearing of the case against nationalist leader Volen Siderov who is accused of hooliganism and infliction of minor injuries to a police officer.

The court hearing which was scheduled for Monday, has been adjourned because the defendant was not given the legal seven-day period to examine the indictment and to prepare his defense, and also because the police officer Kostadin Kolev failed to appear in court, Dnevnik reports.

Siderov himself did not come to court today. The hearing is scheduled for October 15 at 10:30 am.

On January 6, Siderov was involved in a row during a flight where he reportedly insulted the French cultural attaché. Later in the shuttle bus at Varna Airport, Siderov continued with his assault, hitting a policeman and a passenger.

The Ataka leader faces up to 5 years behind bars for hooliganism, and up to 3 years in jail for infliction of minor injuries.