One thousand leva was the fine to be paid by independent member of parliament Pavel Chernev for physical harm caused to Ivailo Dachov in February 2007, the Sofia City Court ruled, after an unusually short hearing, on November 20 2007.

The court case, beginning to end, took less than half a day, mediapool.bg reported.

Chernev said the case against him was "politically motivated".

The incident happened after a broadcast at television Skat, where the victim appeared instead of the leader of the Bulgarian National Union (BNU) Boyan Rasete. Dachov claimed that when leaving the building, he was met by then deputy chairperson of Ataka Pavel Chernev and two others. All had come "with the intention to beat me up," Dachov said.

Dachov said he was beaten in the chest and face.

Dachov said he was surprised because Chernev was a public figure, even a member of parliament. He said he did not file a report with the police immediately because he was "pretty messed up". Police reports against Chernev and a medical examination were taken about two days after the incident.

At the time of the incident, Dachov was head of propaganda of the BNU. Verification however, showed the organisation was not registered.

In its decision, the Court said that Chernev had beaten Dachov with hands and feet, on the head and body, and had caused numerous bruises.

Chernev accused "the political status quo, a group of people who rule and don't want to have anything changed" of the case against him. "I was supposed to be the target of public noise that erupted when nationalism entered real politics," Chernev said.

Chernev announced he would appeal the administrative punishment.