Shock in Bulgarian sport as Botev Plovdiv president is shot dead

Businessman Iliyan Filipov, owner of the transport and construction company PIMK and chairman of Botev Plovdiv, was shot dead in the city of Plovdiv.

According to information published this morning by the Public Prosecutor’s Office, the businessman was shot in the head at around 1:00 a.m.

In a statement, the authorities said the killing took place on the victim’s property and that there was no indication he had been threatened.

Forensic experts set up a wide perimeter around the shooting area, completely stopping traffic on adjacent roads to ensure the preservation and collection of material evidence.

Iliyan Filipov was the founder and leading figure of PIMK, one of the country’s largest transport consortiums, which also had a strong presence in the construction sector. The businessman enjoyed great popularity in Plovdiv because of his decisive role in reviving Botev, after taking control of the club in the summer of 2025, in the midst of a severe financial crisis and a deficit of 3.5 million euros.

Filipov’s company was also responsible for the renovation of the Hristo Botev stadium — in recent months it had been in open conflict with mayor Kostadin Dimitrov over delays in licensing the final construction phase.