SOFIA — 1995 · Unsolved Case
Assassination of Vasil Iliev
Vasil Iliev, who in the early 1990s became one of Bulgaria's most powerful organised crime figures through his "insurance" company VIS, was killed in Sofia on 25 April 1995. As he drove away from a restaurant he frequented, unidentified gunmen who had blocked the road by staging a fake accident opened fire on his car. His bodyguards, travelling in a separate vehicle, were unhurt. The killing was seen as emblematic of the violent rivalry between "insurance" groups during Bulgaria's transition. After his death his brother took over the group; he too was killed in 2005. The perpetrators of Vasil Iliev's murder have never been identified and it is listed among unsolved killings.
- Date
- 1995
- Place
- Sofia, Bulgaria, Sofia, BG
- Category
- Unsolved Case
- Case Status
- Unsolved
- Coordinates
- 42.6900, 23.3200 ↗
Timeline of Events
- Early 1990sIliev built VIS into a powerful criminal group.
- 1994The company's licence was revoked; the group continued under another name.
- 25 April 1995Iliev was shot dead in his car in Sofia.
- 1995His brother took over the group.
- TodayThe killers have not been identified.
Sources
- Wikipedia — Vasil Iliev en.wikipedia.org ↗
- OCCRP — Dead Bulgarian Football Leaders occrp.org ↗
- Wikipedia — Vasil Iliev Security en.wikipedia.org ↗
- Wikipedia
- OCCRP
Source grade A: several independent sources, at least one an official record or reference work. If you spot a mistake or something missing, report it with "Suggest a correction" in the app.
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🕯️ This record was prepared with respect, in memory of those who lost their lives.