Dogan's Attacker: I Wanted to Do Good for Bulgaria

Crime | January 22, 2013, Tuesday| 1474 views

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Dogan's Attacker: I Wanted to Do Something Good for Bulgaria: Dogan's Attacker: I Wanted to Do Good for Bulgaria

Oktay Enimehmedov, who attacked ethnic Turkish leader, Ahmed Dogan, appeared for his arraignment hearing limping and with bruises on his head and face. Photo by BGNES

Oktay Enimehmedov, 25, identified as the man who attacked with a gun pistol Bulgaria's ethnic Turkish leader, Ahmed Dogan, says he did not regret at all what he has done.

"I did not want to kill Dogan, but to scare him, and I am only sorry that my gun misfired," the young man told the Sofia Regional Court's magistrates at his Tuesday arraignment hearing.

The Court ordered permanent detention for the 25-year-old ethnic Turk from Bulgaria's Burgas for attacking Ahmed Dogan, the emblematic leader of Bulgaria's ethnic Turkish party (Movement for Rights and Freedoms, DPS, on Saturday.

The gas pistol that Enimehmedov pointed at Dogan's head misfired.

Enimehmedov is charged with making a murder threat and hooliganism "characterized by particular audacity."

He appeared in the courtroom smiling silently, limping and with serious bruises on his face and head, and denied any comments for the media.

Oktay started his statement before magistrates with the words: "Dear Members of the Parliament," prompting the judge to tell him this was a courtroom.

Enimehmedov then proceeded to say the following:

"I do not want to avoid sanctions. Yes, I went on the stage and pointed the gun at Dogan, but not to kill him, just to scare him. Yes, I have been involved in crimes earlier in my life and I had been punished for them; I already paid my dues for them. For years now, I am trying to do something good for my country. I am not a threat, to the contrary – I am an asset for society. I can be a threat only for the secret society called DPS."

The young man pledged he would not hide, but said he was worried about being killed if he would be let at large. He further stressed he hoped for a fair trial.

The prosecution explained they wanted permanent detention on grounds Enimehmedov demonstratively threatened public order by brandishing a handgun and had a criminal past.

The Court-appointed defense lawyer countered he fully collaborated with the investigators, and plans to do so all along the legal proceedings.