Borislav Georgiev, the chief executive of Atomenergoremont firm, was shot dead on the evening of April 6 and was taken to hospital with two head wounds, Bulgarian news agency (BTA) reported on April 7 2008, quoting sources in the coroner's office.

Georgiev was shot on the staircase of the apartment building in which he lives in Sofia's Lyulin neighbourhood on the evening of April 6, after receiving a tip-off that his apartment was being robbed, private broadcaster bTV said, quoting a spokesman for businessman Hristo Kovachki.

Atomenergoremont is majority-owned by Bulgarian Energy Company, a firm closely linked to Kovachki, who has extensive business interests in the energy sector. Its main activity is servicing the state-owned Kozloduy nuclear power plant.

Georgiev is also the owner of several retail trade firms and a manager in two other electric equipment repairs companies, Focus news agency said.

Georgiev was ambushed on the staircase of the apartment building, bTV said. The police were unable to apprehend the killer, or killers, nor did it officially confirm the identity of the victim, the station added. He was identified by relatives living in the same apartment building, bTV said.