After 5 Years… Bulgaria Arrests Owner of Ship Linked to Beirut Port Explosion

Lebanese judicial officials reported that Bulgarian authorities have arrested Russian Igor Grechushkin, the owner of the cargo ship Rhosus that carried the ammonium nitrate shipment responsible for the Beirut port explosion in 2020, according to the Associated Press.
The arrest of Grechushkin comes nearly five years after the Lebanese investigating judge issued Interpol arrest warrants against him and the ship’s captain, Boris Prokoshev. Officials explained that Beirut has begun preparing formal documents to request his extradition, and if that fails, Lebanese investigators may travel to Sofia to question him there.
Sources indicated that Grechushkin, who also holds Cypriot citizenship, was detained last week at Vasil Levski Airport in the Bulgarian capital upon arrival from Cyprus.
The August 4, 2020 explosion is considered one of the largest disasters Lebanon has witnessed, killing at least 218 people, injuring more than 6,000 others, and destroying vast areas of the capital, causing billions of euros in damages.
Despite five years having passed since the incident, no indictments have been issued against Lebanese officials, and the judicial investigation remains stalled due to political tensions. Judge Tarek Bitar summoned several senior political and security officials last July, pledging to proceed with closing the case and holding those involved accountable.

With Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam assuming office earlier this year, the new government has affirmed its commitment to completing the investigation into the explosion and prosecuting those responsible for one of the worst disasters in Lebanon’s modern history.