Nik Radev

Nikolai Minev "Nik" Radev (; 29 January 1959 – 15 April 2003), nicknamed The Russian, Nik the Russian, and Bulgarian Nick, was a Bulgarian career criminal and mobster who was involved in crime in Melbourne, Australia.

Early life Radev was born in Yambol. In his youth, Radev engaged in wrestling, winning a championship. He also had an extensive criminal record in Bulgaria, having served time in both Bulgarian and Turkish prisons. Radev emigrated to Australia on 3 July 1980, claiming political persecution in Bulgaria. Australian authorities were unaware of Radev's criminal past and granted him refugee status. After settling in Melbourne, he married Sylvia Bruno and in 1981, he was recorded as working at a fish and chips shop. By 1983, he was unemployed. It was reported that he once raped a man who owed him money in front of the man's own wife and children.

He was shot seven times in the head and chest in front of his bodyguard after he stood out from his black Mercedes-Benz CLK 500 convertible. A third person in Nik Radev's entourage was driving a light green 2000 Toyota Camry CSI sedan parked directly in front of his Mercedes-Benz near the corner of Queen & Reynard Streets, Coburg also witnessed the murder. At the time of his death, Radev was indicted on one charge of illegal firearms possession and two rape charges. Victorian Police suspect that Andrew Veniamin and Carl Williams were behind the killing.

Popular culture Radev was portrayed by Don Hany in the Australian TV series Underbelly and the subsequent telemovie Underbelly Files: Tell Them Lucifer was Here.