Russian ship owner arrested in Bulgaria over 2020 Beirut port blast

Damaged site of the massive blast in Beirut's port area, in Beirut, Lebanon, 31 August, 2020.
Reuters

Bulgarian authorities have detained Igor Grechushkin, the Russian owner of a cargo ship linked to the ammonium nitrate at the heart of the 2020 Beirut port explosion, Lebanese judicial officials said.

The arrest comes nearly five years after Lebanese investigators issued Interpol warrants for Grechushkin and the ship’s captain, Boris Prokoshev, also a Russian national. Grechushkin, who holds Cypriot citizenship as well, was taken into custody at Sofia’s Vasil Levski airport after arriving from Cyprus.

Lebanese officials are preparing papers to request his transfer for questioning. If Bulgaria does not comply, investigators may travel to Sofia to interview him.

The explosion on 4 August 2020 killed at least 218 people, injured over 6,000, and caused billions of dollars in damage across Beirut. No Lebanese officials have yet been convicted over the incident.

Earlier this year, Lebanon elected President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, and a Cabinet pledging to complete the port investigation and hold those responsible to account. Investigative judge Tarek Bitar has since summoned senior political, judicial, and security officials as part of renewed efforts to advance the case.

The investigation into Grechushkin’s role is ongoing.

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