Bulgaria: Former police chief discusses Iliya Pavlov assassination

Former National Police Service Director Vasil Vasilev has commented on the assassination of Multigroup head Iliya Pavlov, linking such killings to deep underground influence and financial struggles rather than sports. Vasilev noted that Pavlov was shot from approximately 60 meters away in front of his company headquarters, despite being surrounded by four security guards.

The investigation identified a specific shooting location marked by a metal bracket on a tree, though the weapon has not been recovered. Vasilev criticized the effectiveness of private security, stating that they often fail to protect their clients during professional hits, remarking that private guards are “the best pallbearers” for figures like Zhoro Iliev and Iliya Pavlov.

Vasilev also drew parallels between this incident and the recent crime against Iliyan Filipov, suggesting similar patterns of professional execution driven by business interests.