site.btaDzhevdet Chakarov Looked Like He Had Been Taken Hostage by Terrorists, Says Kiril Petkov

Dzhevdet Chakarov looked like he had been taken hostage by terrorists, said Kiril Petkov, Co-Chair of Continue the Change (CC), part of the Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria (CC–DB) coalition, speaking to reporters in Parliament on Tuesday.

Earlier in the day, MRF – New Beginning released a statement and a photo from a meeting between Delyan Peevski, Chair of MRF – New Beginning, and Dzhevdet Chakarov, outgoing Floor Leader of the Democracy, Rights and Freedoms parliamentary group. According to the press release, Chakarov had resigned as MRF co-chair "to close the chapter of division and confrontation that has marked recent months".

"What we are seeing lately is the same photo, just with different mayors – Peevski is always standing next to them," Petkov said, adding that, based on available information, state institutions such as the anti-corruption commission are being used as bludgeons. "That is terrifying," he noted.

When asked who the institutions were being used against, Petkov responded: "I assume against Dzhevdet Chakarov himself or his son, based on what we are currently reading. Online news outlets suggest his son is being pressured. But in any case, we know this cannot be his free will. What I promise our voters is that you will never see us in such a photo. We believe that no matter how many charges [acting Prosecutor General Borislav] Sarafov invents against us, we will not break, because the only way forward for Bulgaria is through free people who can stand up and say a firm ‘no,’" Petkov continued.

Asked whether Chakarov’s resignation could lead to reunification of the two warring MRF factions, Petkov said that in his view, such a move would be "a betrayal of their electorate".

Questioned on whether the balance between parliamentary groups might change, Petkov said it depends on how many of them can withstand the pressure. "I’m sure of one thing – the path will be hard and long, but all free people must be able to rise and say a firm ‘no’," he added. "This will be our guarantee – you will never see our MPs in a photo like that, like someone taken hostage by terrorists," concluded Petkov, referencing the photo of Chakarov from his meeting with Peevski on Tuesday.

Delyan Peevski and Dzhevdet Chakarov were the two chairmen of the MRF until it split in July 2024 into two factions, one loyal to MRF founder and honorary chairman Ahmed Dogan and another led by Peevski. 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.