Georgi Iliev
Encyclopedia
Georgi Andreev Iliev (July 22, 1966 – August 25, 2005) was a Bulgaria
n businessman, best known for his ownership of a top Bulgarian football
team, Lokomotiv Plovdiv.
In his early years he won several wrestling competitions and a few gold medals, but had to stop his sports career because of a criminal conviction in his involvement in a group rape. Upon his release from prison he became something of a small-time criminal. After the death of his brother Vasil Iliev
he became the boss of a criminal organization called VIS
, which fronted as a legitimate security and insurance provider. The former head secretary of the Bulgarian Ministry of Internal Affairs Boiko Borisov claims to information showing Georgi Iliev's involvement in drug dealing and smuggling
operations. According to Grigor Lilov, author of "The Richest Bulgarians", Georgi Iliiev had amassed a fortune of over $250 million.
He is also thought to have taken a eighteen year old Dimitar Berbatov
hostage with plans of making him sign for his football team. Berbatov's father contacted CSKA Sofia
's boss Iliya Pavlov
who set things straight.
, a resort town on Bulgaria's Black Sea
coast near the city of Bourgas, by a suspected sniper
. Iliev was alleged to be an organized crime
boss, and so his murder was suspected to be part of an ongoing turf war between rival criminal gangs. His brother Vasil Iliev
was also shot and killed in 1995 in Sofia
.
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
n businessman, best known for his ownership of a top Bulgarian football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
team, Lokomotiv Plovdiv.
In his early years he won several wrestling competitions and a few gold medals, but had to stop his sports career because of a criminal conviction in his involvement in a group rape. Upon his release from prison he became something of a small-time criminal. After the death of his brother Vasil Iliev
Vasil Iliev
Vasil Iliev was a Bulgarian mobster, businessman and wrestler.-Background:Vasil Iliev was born in 1965 in Kyustendil, Bulgaria...
he became the boss of a criminal organization called VIS
VIS (criminal organisation)
Vasil Iliev Security, or VIS, is a security and insurance company in Bulgaria thought to be a front for a criminal organisation dealing in extortion, car theft, drug trafficking and more. Set up in the early 1990s by Vasil Iliev. The company was declared illegal in 1994 but continued operating...
, which fronted as a legitimate security and insurance provider. The former head secretary of the Bulgarian Ministry of Internal Affairs Boiko Borisov claims to information showing Georgi Iliev's involvement in drug dealing and smuggling
Smuggling
Smuggling is the clandestine transportation of goods or persons, such as out of a building, into a prison, or across an international border, in violation of applicable laws or other regulations.There are various motivations to smuggle...
operations. According to Grigor Lilov, author of "The Richest Bulgarians", Georgi Iliiev had amassed a fortune of over $250 million.
He is also thought to have taken a eighteen year old Dimitar Berbatov
Dimitar Berbatov
Dimitar Ivanov Berbatov is a Bulgarian footballer who plays as a forward for Manchester United. He captained the Bulgarian national team from 2006 to 2010, and is its all-time leading goalscorer and has also won the Bulgarian Footballer of the Year a record seven times, surpassing the number of...
hostage with plans of making him sign for his football team. Berbatov's father contacted CSKA Sofia
PFC CSKA Sofia
PFC CSKA Sofia , commonly known as CSKA or CSKA Sofia is a professional football club based in Sofia, Bulgaria. The club was officially founded on May 5, 1948. CSKA's abbreviation stands for Central Sports Club of the Army...
's boss Iliya Pavlov
Iliya Pavlov
Iliya Pavlov Naydenov was a Bulgarian businessman. He was the leader and founder of the Multigroup organization, as well as of G-13....
who set things straight.
Death
He was shot and killed at a restaurant in Sunny BeachSunny Beach
Sunny Beach is a major seaside resort on the Black Sea coast of Bulgaria, located approximately 35 km north of Burgas in Nessebar municipality, Burgas Province. It is the biggest and most popular holiday resort in Bulgaria, and is home to over 800 hotels with more than 300 000 beds. There are...
, a resort town on Bulgaria's Black Sea
Black Sea
The Black Sea is bounded by Europe, Anatolia and the Caucasus and is ultimately connected to the Atlantic Ocean via the Mediterranean and the Aegean seas and various straits. The Bosphorus strait connects it to the Sea of Marmara, and the strait of the Dardanelles connects that sea to the Aegean...
coast near the city of Bourgas, by a suspected sniper
Sniper
A sniper is a marksman who shoots targets from concealed positions or distances exceeding the capabilities of regular personnel. Snipers typically have specialized training and distinct high-precision rifles....
. Iliev was alleged to be an organized crime
Organized crime
Organized crime or criminal organizations are transnational, national, or local groupings of highly centralized enterprises run by criminals for the purpose of engaging in illegal activity, most commonly for monetary profit. Some criminal organizations, such as terrorist organizations, are...
boss, and so his murder was suspected to be part of an ongoing turf war between rival criminal gangs. His brother Vasil Iliev
Vasil Iliev
Vasil Iliev was a Bulgarian mobster, businessman and wrestler.-Background:Vasil Iliev was born in 1965 in Kyustendil, Bulgaria...
was also shot and killed in 1995 in Sofia
Sofia
Sofia is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria and the 12th largest city in the European Union with a population of 1.27 million people. It is located in western Bulgaria, at the foot of Mount Vitosha and approximately at the centre of the Balkan Peninsula.Prehistoric settlements were excavated...
.