Georgi Markov was a Bulgarian dissident and writer born on March 1, 1929. He became known for his criticism of the Bulgarian Communist Party and the oppressive regime in Bulgaria. In 1969, he defected to the United Kingdom, where he continued to speak out against the government. Markov's life took a tragic turn on September 7, 1978, when he was assassinated in London. He was poisoned with a pellet containing the deadly toxin ricin, which was injected into his leg using a specially modified umbrella. His mysterious death is widely believed to have been orchestrated by the Bulgarian secret police with assistance from the KGB.