site.btaDemocracy, Rights and Freedoms Complains of Political Repression after Being Ordered to Vacate Longtime Party Headquarters

Democracy, Rights and Freedoms (DRF), a spinoff of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms which was formed after a rift in the party, accused the current government of carrying out "unprecedented political repression", following a move to expel the party from its historic headquarters in central Sofia. At a press conference, DRF MP Dzhevdet Chakarov stated that for the past ten days, executive authorities have been initiating procedures to seize the party’s central office - a building the party has occupied for decades - allegedly in violation of constitutional and legal provisions.

He emphasized the irony that these actions are being undertaken by a government that was formed with the support of their votes in the current Parliament.

“These retaliatory repressive actions will not shake our confidence in the rightness of our position,” said Chakarov. “We will continue to inform the international community about these serious democratic deficiencies, which are the result of the short-sighted political vision of the parties in the majority, particularly the mandate holder [GERB-UDF],” he added.

MP Dzheyhan Ibryamov told reporters in Parliament that the party has been given a one-week notice to vacate the offices. Meetings with the Regional Governor of Sofia and the Prime Minister are scheduled in an attempt to address the issue.