Shot Bulgarian Businessman Shows Signs of Improvement after Deep Coma

Crime | July 12, 2007, Thursday // 00:00
Bulgaria: Shot Bulgarian Businessman Shows Signs of Improvement after Deep Coma Manol Velev, husband of Bulgaria's youth and sports state agency chairwoman Vessela Lecheva and advisor to the president, was shot in the head on Wednesday outside his home in downtown Sofia. Photo by bulphoto

The businessman, who was shot in the head on Wednesday outside his home in downtown Sofia, is showing visible signs of improvement, doctors said Thursday, but warned his condition is still critical.

Manol Velev, husband of Bulgaria's youth and sports state agency chairwoman Vessela Lecheva and advisor to the president, was shot shortly after 10 am on Mizia street. A drive-by shooter fired one bullet in the head and two in the body and fled away.

"Velev was in deep coma until late on Wednesday," the head of the surgery team at the emergency hospital Pirogov told bTV channel.

"Currently his vital signs are good and we have reasons to believe the brain functions start restoring," professor Milan Milanov said.

Meanwhile the interior minister said he was not aware of whether Velev had received any threats prior to the shooting. "Most clues point to a clash of business interests," Minister Rumen Petkov disclosed.

Velev is known for his close connections to the Bulgarian Socialist Party and Vuzrazhdane business club, which has been frequently accused of influencing the decisions of the executive. His diverse business interests span from tourism, construction and transport to media and gambling.

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