Russian ship owner Igor Grechushkin, identified as an important figure in the ongoing investigation into the horrific explosion that occurred in the port of Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, in 2020, has been arrested in Bulgaria. The AP news agency reported this, citing four sources within the Lebanese judicial system.
According to reports, the reason for this arrest was two different international warrants issued by a Lebanese investigative judge against Grechushkin and ship captain Boris Prokoshev. Only five years after Interpol's search began was one of them apprehended.
Currently, Lebanese judicial authorities are preparing an official request to extradite Grechushkin to Beirut. It is also said that if the extradition is not carried out, investigators may go directly to Bulgaria to interrogate him.
The AP agency added that Grechushkin, who holds Russian and Cypriot citizenship, was arrested at the airport last week when he arrived in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, from Cyprus.
Recall that in 2020, ammonium nitrate stored in the port of Beirut caused a massive explosion, injuring thousands of people. This tragedy is still remembered as one of the most horrific industrial disasters in Lebanese history.
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