Head of taekwondo federation and former MEP Slavi Binev shot dead in Sofia

Sports federation head and former politician shot dead

A tragedy occurred in the Bulgarian capital on Saturday: Slavi Binev was shot dead in his private home. The man was 60 years old. He is known as the head of the Bulgarian Taekwondo Federation and vice-president of the European Taekwondo Union.

Circumstances of the incident

According to information released by the police, law enforcement officers received a report of gunshots at approximately 10:30 am. When they arrived at the scene, they found the body of the deceased. The investigation is ongoing at this time.

Detention of suspects

Senior police official Lyubomir Nikolov told journalists that three suspects were detained on a motorway outside Sofia. All of them were armed. Two of the detainees hold Turkish citizenship, while the third possesses a Bulgarian identity card. The motives for the crime have not yet been disclosed.

Political and sports career

After a successful sports career in taekwondo, Slavi Binev moved into politics. He held the position of a member of the Bulgarian National Assembly and subsequently became a member of the European Parliament, elected on the lists of nationalist parties.

Background and context of events

Local media noted that in the early 1990s, Binev was linked to a group that controlled several entertainment venues in Sofia. According to media reports, this structure was allegedly involved in prostitution, drug trafficking, and the sale of stolen cars.

Binev's death became the latest case in a new series of high-profile murders in the country. The incident coincided with the final phase of a tense pre-election campaign ahead of the presidential elections, which are scheduled to take place on Sunday.