SOFIA CITY COURT TURNED DOWN THE REGISTRATION OF MESTAN’S DOST PARTY

Sofia city court has turned down the registration of the new party DOST of Lyutvi Mestan, the former leader of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms. The main arguments of the court were related to the abbreviation DOST, which in Turksih means “friend”.

DOST said that an appeal against the decision will be submitted to the Supreme Cassation Court.

Judge Lilya ilieva from Sofia City court said that it was not proven that the party set the goals, which were written in the founding documents and that there was clarity how it would achieve them.

As regards the name DOST, the court says that it means “friend” in Turkish and the party presents and advertises itself through the abbreviation. For instance, at political rallies, while people are shouting slogans, the name DOST will be pronounced repeatedly and therefore foreign language will be used at the public gathering.

Judge Ilieva added that most of the founders had names of Turkish origin.

The judge also concludes that although there is no hint in the founding documents that the party will be ethnically based, the “playing” with the abbreviation DOST shows that most likely it will have a character based on ethnicity.

Bulgaria’s Constitution forbids political parties based on racial, religious or ethnic identity.

Mestan’s party presented an official position to the media saying that Sofia City Court’s decision was bad news not for DOST, but for the democratic and the Euro-Atlantic image of Bulgaria.

DOST party was founded in full compliance with the Constitution and the law on political parties, Mestan says.

DOST say they expect the Supreme Cassation Court to take into account this fact, which according to DOST, was included in the conclusion of the Prospector’s office as well.