Six MPs of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS), the second largest opposition party in the Bulgarian parliament, submitted requests for leaving the parliamentary group of DPS.

This was announced by the administration of the parliament, Darik radio informs.

Apart from expelled DPS leader Lyutvi Mestan, Aydoan Ali, Ventsislav Kaymakanov, Mariana Georgieva, Hyusein Hafazov and Shabanali Durmush have also submitted requests for leaving the parliamentary group.

After the withdrawal of the six MPs, the parliamentary group of DPS will decrease to 30 MPs.

They will join the non-affiliated MPs as according to the rules of procedure they are not allowed to join any parliamentary group.

In a New Year's address delivered in December last year, honorary chairperson and founder of DPS, Ahmed Dogan, criticised Mestan over a declaration expressing support for Ankara after the downing of the Russian Su-24 bomber by Turkish fighter jets near the Turkish-Syrian border on 24 November 2015.

Several days later, Mestan was dismissed as chairperson of DPS and excluded from the party at an extraordinary meeting of the movement's governing council at the villa of Dogan taking place on 24 December 2015.

The ousting of Mestan resulted in splits within DPS, with so far five MPs having expressed support for him by announcing their withdrawal from the parliamentary group.

At a press conference held last week, Mestan showed determination to stay in politics despite the recent developments, but did not reveal whether he will launch his own political project.