The Umbrella Assassination of Georgi Markov episode artwork

EPISODE · Dec 3, 2025 · 27 MIN

The Umbrella Assassination of Georgi Markov

from Small Town Mysteries · host Kate, Christine, and Rachael

Send us Fan MailOn September 7, 1978, Georgi Markov, a Bulgarian defector living in London, was on his way to work. He left his car and crossed the Waterloo Bridge, which was part of his everyday routine. While waiting for the bus, Markov felt a stinging sensation in his right thigh. When he turned around, he saw a man picking up an umbrella from off the ground and running away. Not feeling well, Markov checked himself into the hospital on September 8. He was convinced there was something wrong with him. Markov was running a fever and complained of nausea and vomiting. He kept pointing to an area on his right side, stating that it was swollen and causing great pain. 4 days after the run in with the man with the umbrella, Georgi Markov was dead, at the age of 49 years old. Sources: 1) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsVRYhLLPCM2) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgi_Markov3) https://www.usagm.gov/news-and-information/threats-to-press/georgi-markov/4) https://spyscape.com/article/spy-murder-the-poisoned-umbrella-mystery-georgi-markov5) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francesco_Gullino6) https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/mar/17/poison-umbrella-documentary-sheds-new-light-infamous-spy-killing-cold-war7) https://www.adamsmith.org/blog/georgi-markov-murdered-by-a-bulgarian-secret-service-assassin#:~:text=No%2Done%20was%20ever%20charged,destroyed%20to%20remove%20hard%20evidence.8) https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2013-09-11/bulgaria-to-end-umbrella-murder-probe-after-35-years?embedded-checkout=trueSupport the show

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Send us Fan Mail On September 7, 1978, Georgi Markov, a Bulgarian defector living in London, was on his way to work. He left his car and crossed the Waterloo Bridge, which was part of his everyday routine. While waiting for the bus, Markov felt a stinging sensation in his right thigh. When he turned around, he saw a man picking up an umbrella from off the ground and running away. Not feeling well, Markov checked himself into the hospital on September 8. He was convinced there was something wr...

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The Umbrella Assassination of Georgi Markov

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