Lyutvi Mestan, leader of Bulgaria's liberal, predominantly ethnic Turkish party, DPS, appeared in Court Monday to testify in the trial against the man who pointed a gas pistol at the party's former and honorary leader.

Key Movement for Rights and Freedoms, DPS, lawmaker Ramadan Atalay is also in the courtroom.

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."

Mestan failed to appear in Court last Wednesday as he was not been found to be summoned. When the summons went to his house, only Mestan's minor son has been there, while people at the DPS headquarters have refused to accept the subpoena.

The subpoena was then sent to his workplace – the Parliament, nevertheless he explained before the magistrates Monday that he still had not received it and has learned from the media that he must appear. Mestan vowed to answer all questions when on the witness stand.

He explained Dogan's health condition prevented him from going to the Court and testifying.

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

Last Wednesday, however, the magistrates proceeded with the questioning of witnesses, while, in addition to the sick notes, Judge Penka Velinova requested Dogan's health and medical exams records to find out when he would be available.

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