Georgi Andreev Iliev Bulgarian businessman Date of Birth: 22.07.1966 Country: Bulgaria

1. Georgi Andreev Iliev: A Controversial Bulgarian Businessman
2. From Athlete to Criminal
3. A Life of Crime
4. The 'VIS' Criminal Organization
5. A Wealthy Life Cut Short
6. A Grim Warning

Georgi Andreev Iliev: A Controversial Bulgarian Businessman

Georgi Andreev Iliev, born on July 22, 1966, in Kyustendil, Bulgaria, is best known as the owner of the Bulgarian football club 'Lokomotiv Plovdiv' in the Professional Football Group 'A'. However, his life and career were marred by numerous criminal activities and controversies.

From Athlete to Criminal

Iliev started his career as an athlete, participating in wrestling competitions and even winning several gold medals. However, his promising sports career came to an abrupt end due to his involvement in criminal activities. In 1983, he was involved in a theft, which marked the beginning of his criminal record. Subsequently, he was accused of group rape and sentenced to 11 years in prison.

A Life of Crime

After his early release from prison in 1991, Iliev engaged in petty criminal activities. He was arrested again the following year on suspicion of car theft and using fake documents. In 1995, he faced charges of robbery and assault, which led to his imprisonment once more. His last offense involved hooliganism at a nightclub, for which the Sofia District Court ordered him to pay a fine of 1,200 euros and 700 Bulgarian levs.

The 'VIS' Criminal Organization

Following the death of his brother, Vasiliy Iliev, Georgi assumed leadership of the criminal organization known as 'VIS'. Under the guise of legal security and insurance providers, 'VIS' was allegedly involved in drug trafficking and smuggling operations. Former Secretary of the Bulgarian Ministry of Internal Affairs, Boyko Borisov, claimed that there was evidence of Iliev's involvement in these illegal activities.

A Wealthy Life Cut Short

According to Grigor Likov, the author of 'The Richest Bulgarians', Georgi Iliev amassed a fortune exceeding 250 million dollars during his lifetime. However, his life was tragically cut short when he was shot in front of 30 witnesses on August 25, 2005. The incident occurred in a restaurant located in one of the main seaside resorts on the Black Sea coast of Bulgaria, Sunny Beach. The fatal shot to the heart took his life. As Iliev was considered a boss of organized crime, his murder was seen as part of the ongoing war between rival criminal gangs.

A Grim Warning

According to criminologists, Iliev's murder on his own territory served as a warning that complete safety was essentially non-existent. His brother, Vasiliy Iliev, was also shot and killed in Sofia in April 1995.