Owner of Botev Plovdiv club Ilyan Filipov killed; Bulgarian authorities launch investigation

A Bulgarian businessman and president of a top-flight football club was shot dead in the city of Plovdiv early on Wednesday.

Iliyan Filipov – owner of one of Bulgaria’s largest transport and logistics companies, PIMK, and majority shareholder in FC Botev Plovdiv – was killed at around 1 a.m. at a property he owned in the city.

Officers blocked the main exit and entry points of Plovdiv, which is located southeast of the capital Sofia.

“We are actively pursuing all possible leads,” Plovdiv District Prosecutor Vanya Hristeva said at a press conference.