Zhivkov was born on November 5, 1959 in Boychinovtsi, in the family of a seamstress and factory worker. Raised in the village of Trifonovo, located 8 km from Montana. He has a master's degree in history from Veliko Tarnovo University and he specialized in "History of Bulgarian Revival" from Sofia University. In 1985 he became a history teacher at Yordan Radichkov High School in Montana, and later a director of the same high school in 1993. From 1997 to 1999, Zhivkov was head of the Education Inspectorate of the Ministry of Education and Science in the Montana district. He ran for mayor in 1999 and won as a candidate for Union of Democratic Forces. Since 2003, Zhivkov is independent and in his last candidacy, he was endorsed by the Union of Democratic Forces, GERB, Bulgarian New Democracy, IMRO, the Bulgarian National Movement and the Agrarian People's Union. Bulgarian prime minister and founding chairman of GERB Boyko Borisov personally endorsed him in a video. In 2019, Zhivkov was also awarded "Mayor of the Year" and re-elected for his 6th consecutive term with 15,721 votes, 71.75% of all elected, which is his highest support yet. Zhivkov has two children with his wife Albena, Antina and Orlin. In addition to his native Bulgarian, he speaks Russian fluently.
Political activity
As mayor, he has been managing the city municipality for six terms from the period 1999 to 2023. Zhivkov was Deputy Chairman of the Namib Managing Board from 2007 to 2011. He was also a Member of the NAMRB Managing Board from 2015 to 2019. He has been a Member of the European Committee of Regions since 2007. He is also a Member of CoR Commission for Social Policy, Education, Employment, Research and Culture and Commission for Economic Policy. Zhivkov is the Chairman of the Managing Board of the Regional Development Agency and Business Centre 2000 – Montana and also a member of the Rotary Club - Montana. Despite his longest tenure as a mayor of a major Bulgarian city, Zhivkov is most known as the financial supporter of all sports activities in Montana, including the football clubFC Montana, the basketball team WBC Montana 2003 and Montana's volleyball team, all playing nationwide. While studying in Veliko Tarnovo, Zhivkov played football alongside Bulgarian football legends Krasimir Balakov and Trifon Ivanov.
