Lyutvi Mestan

Ahmed Dogan, the honorary chairman of Bulgaria's Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) party and lawmaker Delyan Peevski have been barred from entering Turkey, several media outlets have reported.  

Lyutvi Mestan, the former leader of DPS party who was expelled last year, vowed that his new political project will adhere to "liberal and Euro-Atlantic" values.

In an interview with private national NOVA TV broadcaster on Tuesday, he said that the crisis in the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) party was the outcome of its ever more outspoken "pro-Russian" orientation.

Representatives of "the Turkish state" are applying pressure on ethnic Turks in Bulgaria, Georgi Parvanov, former President (2002-2012) and leader of coalition ally ABV, has said.

Mustafa Hadzhi was reelected on Sunday as Chief Mufti of Bulgaria, at a conference at a session of the country's Muslim officials where he was the single candidate.

All of the 991 delegates who were present approved the candidacy, this giving Hadzhi a third term in office (he was also reelected with no rivals in February of 2011).

Turkey is said to have recalled its consul from Plovdiv, Bulgarian daily 24 Chasa reported on Thursday citing an "informed source".

Alper Aktas had been appointed consul of Turkey to the second largest Bulgarian city in 2014. His term of office was set to expire in summer 2016.

Lyutvi Mestan, the former head of predominantly ethnic Turk Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) party, is set to announce the formation of a new party in a matter of days, a local Bulgarian website reports.

Bulgaria's Foreign Minister has urged Turkey's Ambassador Suleyman Gokce to abide by the Vienna Convention and to "do his best" to dispel the impression that he is trying to interfere in domestic policy.

Lyutvi Mestan, who was ousted from the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) pasty after heading it for three years, has said he will not take part in a "right-wing political project" of Radan Kanev, the chairman of Democrats for Strong Bulgaria (DSB) party.

The Bulgarian parliament will convene at its first plenary sitting for the new year on Wednesday.

Bulgarian MPs enjoyed 25 days of holiday after going into Christmas recess on December 19 last year.

The parliamentary represented parties are expected to outline their priorities for the new political season.

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.