Georgi Iliev

Who was Georgi Iliev?

Georgi Andreev Iliev was a Bulgarian businessman, best known for his ownership of a top Bulgarian football team, Lokomotiv Plovdiv. In his early years he won several wrestling competitions and a few gold medals, but had to stop his sports career because of a criminal conviction in his involvement in a group rape. Upon his release from prison he became something of a small-time criminal. After the death of his brother Vasil Iliev he became the boss of a criminal organization called VIS, which fronted as a legitimate security and insurance provider. The former head secretary of the Bulgarian Ministry of Internal Affairs Boyko Borisov claims to information showing Georgi Iliev's involvement in drug dealing and smuggling operations. According to Grigor Lilov, author of "The Richest Bulgarians", Georgi Iliiev had amassed a fortune of over $250 million.

He is also thought to have taken an eighteen-year-old Dimitar Berbatov hostage with plans of making him sign for his football team. Berbatov's father contacted CSKA Sofia's boss Iliya Pavlov who set things straight.