The most important issue in the case against Oktay Enimehmedov is who contracted the murder of Ahmed Dogan, honorary lifetime leader Bulgaria's liberal, predominantly ethnic Turkish party, DPS.

The statement was made Monday by Dogan's successor, Lyutvi Mestan, the current leader of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms, DPS. He appeared in Court to testify in the trial against Enimehmedov, the man who pointed a gas pistol at the party's honorary chairman.

"I hope the authorities will not stop the work on establishing the "political contractor" behind Oktay Enimehmedov," he stated.

Mestan reiterated Dogan was not going to testify because he has submitted doctor's notes and a memo, showing his ailing health precluded courtroom appearances.

"I am not authorized to give more information about his condition. I'm not a judge and I'm not able to comment on the purely legal side of the issue, but as a common person, I have a counter question – as further demonstrated by today's testimony, everything is clear. Is there someone who doubts that Oktay Enimehmedov came with a gun, reloaded it 2 times in an attempt to produce 3 shots, and the gun was found on him? Do you imagine, if you put yourself in Dogan's shoes, someone asking you to stay close to your executioner," said Mestan.

According to him, somebody is making clumsy attempts to present political causes during the hearing of the attacker.

Key Movement for Rights and Freedoms, DPS, lawmaker Ramadan Atalay was in the courtroom as well.

It was also reported that Dogan has filed a request to be taken off the witness list over his poor health condition.

On January 19, police detained 25-year-old Oktay Enimehmedov after he pointed a gas pistol at Movement for Rights and Freedoms leader Ahmed Dogan as the latter was delivering his resignation speech at a party conference in Sofia. No shots were fired.

Enimehmedov was indicted on attempted murder charges. He was also charged with "indecent actions that are grossly violating the public order and showing clear lack of respect for society."

The Sofia City Court postponed the first hearing in the trial back on August 14 and the second on September 24, as Dogan failed to show up in court. It emerged on October 16 that he has produced another sick note, as he did on the previous two occasions.

Last Wednesday, however, the magistrates proceeded with the questioning of witnesses.

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