Revolutionary Georgi Ikonomov

Georgi Ikonomov was born on 20 April 1846 in the town of Sliven, into the family of Father Todor Ikonomov. He was educated in his native town, studying under the well-known National Revival figure, poet and musician Dobri Chintulov. He spent a short time with his sister, who was married to the merchant D. Petrov in the town of Tulcea. He worked as an employee of Hirsch's railway.

He established contact with the Ruse Local Revolutionary Committee of the Internal Revolutionary Organisation, founded by Vasil Levski, and became one of its active members. He participated in the well-known episode in which the committee selected him to execute the traitor Stoyan Penev, an employee of Karavelov's printing house in Bucharest. After this incident it became dangerous for him to remain in Ruse, and the committee temporarily transferred him to Romania.

After returning to Bulgaria, Georgi Ikonomov worked as a clerk and shunter for Baron Hirsch's company on the Harmanli–Adrianople railway line, moving between the stations of Ruse, Tarnovo-Seymen (Simeonovgrad) and Adrianople. There he met Todor Kableshkov, the telegraph operator and stationmaster at Belovo railway station.

Georgi Ikonomov played an important part in preparing and participating in the Stara Zagora Uprising in 1875, commanding an insurgent detachment. After the uprising he emigrated to Romania and joined the Giurgiu Committee. He was appointed assistant revolutionary organiser to Ilarion Dragostinov in the Second Sliven Revolutionary District.

Georgi Ikonomov is known for his active participation in the April Uprising in 1876. News of its proclamation in Koprivshtitsa on 20 April reached him in Panagyurishte. He left the town with Panayot Volov and Orcho Voyvoda and participated in one of the first clashes with the Turks in Strelcha, where he commanded a detachment alongside Panayot Volov.

After the uprising was crushed, Georgi Ikonomov set out for Romania with Panayot Volov and Stoyan Angelov. Following a betrayal, he was wounded in Byala, and during his attempt to escape he drowned in the Yantra River on 26 May 1876.