Bulgarian Businessman and Football Club Owner Ilian Filipov Shot Dead in Plovdiv
Bulgarian businessman and Botev Plovdiv football club owner Ilian Filipov was shot dead in Plovdiv, prompting a massive police manhunt and ongoing criminal investigation.
Bulgarian businessman and football club owner Ilian Filipov was shot dead in the city of Plovdiv early Wednesday morning, triggering a massive police response.
According to reports from Bulgarian media and Reuters, Filipov was shot in the head at around 1:00 AM at a property he owned in the city, and his death was pronounced at the scene. The Bulgarian Interior Ministry confirmed that an investigation into a serious criminal offense has been launched.
Following the murder, police blocked all major roads leading into and out of Plovdiv, located about 145 kilometers southeast of Sofia. Plovdiv District Prosecutor Vanya Hristova stated that authorities are actively pursuing all possible investigative leads, though no arrests or suspects have been announced yet.
Filipov was a prominent figure in Bulgaria, serving as the owner and president of the Botev Plovdiv football club. In the business sector, he founded and managed PIMK, one of the largest transport and logistics companies in Bulgaria and Europe, and was heavily involved in the construction of the Hristo Botev Stadium.
