Slavi Binev, the 60-year-old president of the Bulgarian Taekwondo Federation and vice president of the European Taekwondo Union, was shot dead at his home in Sofia on Saturday, according to local police. Authorities reported that they received a call regarding gunfire at approximately 10:30 a.m. and discovered Binev dead upon their arrival at the residence. An investigation into the killing is currently underway.
Top police officer Lyubomir Nikolov stated that law enforcement officials have detained three suspects on a highway outside of Sofia. According to Nikolov, two of the individuals in custody are Turkish citizens, while the third person was carrying a Bulgarian identification card. The suspects were reported to be armed at the time of their arrest, though police have not yet released details regarding a potential motive for the shooting.
Before his tenure in sports administration, Binev had a prominent career as a Taekwondo fighter. He later transitioned into politics, serving as a member of the National Assembly and the European Parliament, having been elected on the ticket of nationalist parties. Local media reports have also noted his activities during the early 1990s, when he was linked to a group that operated several entertainment venues in Sofia. These reports allege that the group was involved in various criminal activities, including the trafficking of stolen cars, drugs, and prostitution.
