Leader of Bulgaria's nationalist party Ataka, Volen Siderov is to face prosecution in a hooliganism and infliction of minor injuries case, Monday.

The first court hearing will be held seven months after the incident on January 6 when the nationalist leader was involved in a conflict, which started on an airplane, where he reportedly insulted the French cultural attach?. Later in the shuttle bus at Varna Airport, Siderov continued with his assault, hitting a policeman and a passenger who had expressed his outrage at the incident.

Siderov faces up to 5 years behind bars for hooliganism, and up to 3 years in jail for infliction of minor injuries. More than 20 witnesses have been interrogated so far, BGNES reminds.

This was not the first time the notorious Ataka leader has been involved in a scandal. In 2010, Siderov was detained in Germany for stirring a row on a Lufthansa flight.