Plovdiv Regional Court has refused to free 42-year-old Atanas Angelov Dechev, known as Jackie, from custody. He is charged as an accomplice in the killing of Plovdiv businessman Iliyan Filipov.
The ruling came today, 13 November, and is not final. It can be appealed or challenged by prosecutors within three days. If that happens, the Plovdiv Court of Appeal will hear the case on 19 November 2026 at 10am.
See also: Pazardzhik man is second person held over killing of Iliyan Filipov
Police had been looking for Dechev and arrested him on Wednesday, 11 November, at a home in Pazardzhik. The supervising prosecutor ordered him held for up to 72 hours. Dechev is the second person charged in the case. Slavcho Megerov, known as Megera, was charged first. Prosecutors say Megerov carried out the killing. He also remains in custody.
Prosecutors say Dechev followed Filipov and passed information on his movements to Megerov. They say this made it easier to prepare and carry out the killing. The charge calls this logistical help. Asked what that means, supervising prosecutor Dimitar Molev said it refers to information about the movements of the murdered businessman.
Molev gave the court an analysis of video recordings from the investigation. Prosecutors also say investigators found a firearm, and an expert report links it to the fatal shot.
"Work on this case has not stopped," Molev said. He added that investigators are following several lines of inquiry.
The hearing on the custody order was held behind closed doors, because details from the defendant's private life could have become public.
Lawyer Krasimir Eldarov, who defends Dechev, argued that the most severe measure is not needed and that the evidence is not enough to justify keeping him in custody. Medical documents about Dechev's health were added to the defence case.
In his final statement, Dechev asked for house arrest, saying he has a family and two young children to look after.
The court found there are legal grounds for custody and that, with a lighter measure, there is a real risk Dechev would go into hiding. It did not consider the defence arguments strong enough.
Police say Dechev has prior convictions, including for taking part in an organised criminal group that sold drugs, for racketeering, and for threatening to kill. Investigators say he and Megerov have known each other for years, and that Dechev has known Filipov for a long time. There is no final verdict for the killing, and Dechev's role has still to be established in the criminal proceedings.
Eldarov says Dechev's wife was also detained as part of the investigation, and one of his children was questioned.