An official investigation into the death of Ahmed Emin, who on October 17 2008 was found dead of a gunshot wound in the house of Ahmed Dogan, leader of Bulgaria's ruling coalition partner the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF), was officially closed on April 14 2009.
Bulgarian-language Dnevnik daily quoted prosecutor Alexander Nalbantov as saying that the investigation had not established the reason why Emin, an MRF official and father of two, had decided to end his life. Emin used his legally-owned firearm to commit suicide, while MRF leader Dogan was in the room next door.
A total of 85 people were questioned in relation to the incident. Prosecutors concluded that there was no evidence suggesting that someone had forced Emin to end his life, notwithstanding speculation and allegations by former MRF members.
Emin's motive to end his life was a personal, not professional one, Nalbantov said.
The investigation had found that on the day of his death, Emin went to work dressed in a black suit, not in his usual casual wear. This, according to the investigation, showed that he had planned to kill himself.
Investigators had found that Emin had been highly responsible and committed to the MRF cause, Nalbantov said
He had been in a good physical and mental state and had not been under the influence of alcohol or drugs when he decided to pull the trigger.
Dogan, who after the incident claimed that Emin's suicide was an attack on the MRF, was questioned twice. In his first media appearance after the suicide, Dogan said that Emin was a low-profile MRF functionary, "just a secretary", dismissing allegations that Emin had been involved in alleged MRF funding under the table.