Bulgaria gunman who assaulted Turkish minority party leader to run for parliament: Report

SOFIA - Agence France-Presse

Oktay Enimehmedov aimed a gas pistol at the leader of Bulgaria's Turkish minority MRF party, Ahmed Doğan in January.

A man who dramatically pointed a gun at a prominent Bulgarian political leader live on television in January is set to run for office, local media reported April 9.

Oktay Enimehmedov aimed a gas pistol at the leader of Bulgaria's Turkish minority MRF party, Ahmed Doğan, during a speech, but Doğan managed however to swipe away his attacker's arm and the gun jammed.

Last week he was charged with attempted manslaughter and is currently in custody, which could make the 25-year-old ethnic Turk's bid to become an MP in the May 12 elections difficult.

Authorities also have to establish whether the 8,000 signatures putting him forward as an independent candidate and presented by a special initiative committee are genuine, BGNES news agency said.

EU member Bulgaria already saw two notorious crime bosses, known as the Galev brothers, run for parliament as a way to suspend their extortion and racketeering trials at the last elections in 2009.

The seriousness of the charges against Enimehmedov mean that he will not be able to avoid prosecution during the election campaign or become a lawmaker if sentenced in the meantime, the Burgas electoral committee was reported as saying April 9.