Considering what may gently be termed the credibility challenge facing Bulgaria’s justice system, the spectacle of a judge having to adjourn a trial hearing in the face of a courtroom full of jeering boors supporting Ataka leader Volen Siderov is an unhelpful one.

Siderov and his spouse Kapka were in court in Sofia on May 8 because of prima facie evidence that he made false statements when questioned by prosecutors about an August 2006 incident in which he allegedly threatened two people with a pistol after a road collision. Siderov claimed afterwards the incident had been an attempt to assassinate him. When it emerged that the two “assailants” had been a grandfather and his young grandson in a somewhat elderly car, few reasonable people were disposed to believe this claim. But given his unique interpretation of reality, many might expect factual inexactitudes from Siderov.

In court, the judge and two police officers were faced down by a claque of Siderov supporters chanting “Volen”, “innocent” and “mafia”. Television cameras showed a brief consultation between the police and the judge, and an adjournment.

Enormous amounts of time and money have been devoted by Bulgaria’s foreign friends to attempting to reform its court system. The problems of the system are well-canvassed, including a common practice of trials being hindered and postponed because of missing lawyers, missing witnesses and, in the case of a previous hearing involving Siderov, the absence of the accused. On May 8, the court system showed, sadly, that it could be forced into retreat by being shouted down by a bunch of thugs in whose twisted world-view, Siderov is a victim of political persecution, rather than an individual in the dock because in a road rage incident, he whipped out a gun and then allegedly lied afterwards.

Twisted as they may have been by their own inner hatreds and frustrations, the faces of those booing the judge and the court were clearly visible in television coverage. While in many countries, courts may be cleared in the face of such disorder, this would be done so that a trial may proceed. It is difficult to imagine that only two police were deployed to what was certain to be a controversial trial, and it is difficult to understand why more police were not summoned to lead the unruly mob away to be charged individually with contempt of court. The court could easily request copies of the television footage to be used in evidence.

When the trial resumes, it is to be hoped that it proceeds as the rules of court dictate. If there is any further such attempt to howl down the judge, the law should come down with full force on those displaying contempt. Progress has been made in reforming and improving Bulgaria’s court system, and no mob should be allowed to reduce a court day to a media spectacle. The maxim is eternal: Justice must be seen to be done.

* Clive Leviev-Sawyer is Editorial Director of Sofia Echo Media and Editor-in-Chief of The Sofia Echo