Bulgaria detains Russian owner of the Beirut explosion cargo ship at Lebanon's request
In a surprising development in the tragic Beirut port explosion case, Bulgarian authorities detained Russian Igor Grechushkin, the owner of the cargo ship "Rhosus" that transported the ammonium nitrate shipment that caused the disaster more than five years ago.
The arrest took place at "Vasil Levski – Sofia" airport last week, following Grechushkin's arrival, who also holds Cypriot citizenship, on a flight from Cyprus. Lebanese judicial officials confirmed this news, stating, according to the Associated Press: "Bulgarian authorities arrested Russian Igor Grechushkin, the owner of the cargo ship (Rhosus) linked to the (ammonium nitrate) shipment that caused the devastating explosion at the Beirut port in 2020."
This detention comes nearly five years after a Lebanese investigating judge issued two arrest warrants through Interpol against him and the ship's Russian captain Boris Prokushkin.
Judicial officials clarified that "Beirut is in the process of preparing the official papers to request his extradition," noting that "if the extradition process is not completed, Lebanese investigators may travel to Bulgaria to interrogate him there." No official comment has yet been issued by Bulgarian authorities regarding the arrest.
The arrest of Grechushkin, who has remained out of sight for years, represents a new hope for the families of the victims who demand justice and accountability, as this detention could lead to new revelations in the investigation that has faced significant political and legal obstacles in Lebanon.
It is worth noting that the horrific explosion that occurred on August 4, 2020, claimed the lives of more than two hundred people and destroyed large parts of the Lebanese capital.
