Bulgarian businessman and former MEP Slavi Binev shot dead in Sofia

Bulgarian businessman and former politician Slavi Binev was shot dead at his home in Sofia’s Pavlovo district on October 24.

The police received a report of the killing shortly before 10:30 a.m.

Three suspects have been detained by the police.

Binev had a notable sporting career in addition to his political activities. He was a multiple Bulgarian taekwondo champion, an overall Balkan champion and a European champion, and served as president of the Bulgarian Taekwondo Federation. In the 1990s, Binev owned some of Sofia’s best-known entertainment venues, and his name was linked to conflicts between criminal groups.

Binev later entered politics. In 2007, he ran in the European Parliament elections and was elected MEP on the ticket of the Ataka party. That same year, he also ran for mayor of Sofia. In 2009, he was re-elected as a Member of the European Parliament. In 2011, he left Ataka party and, a year later, founded the conservative party Movement for Success. It subsequently became part of the political alliance Civic Union for Real Democracy (GORD).

In 2014, Binev left GORD and joined the National Front for the Salvation of Bulgaria (NFSB). In the parliamentary elections held in October that year, he was elected as an MP for the Haskovo constituency on the party’s ticket. He became chair of the parliamentary Committee on Culture, a move that sparked protests from numerous intellectuals and public organisations. Binev subsequently resigned from the post.

Edited by BNR news team