Russian businessman Igor Grechushkin, who lives in Cyprus, has been detained in Bulgaria for possible extradition to Lebanon, where he is wanted over his alleged role in the 2020 explosion at the Port of Beirut that killed 200 people.
Bulgarian authorities did not comment on the case, but on Tuesday the prosecutor’s office said it had detained a citizen of Russia and Cyprus with the initials I.G. “for the purpose of extradition” to Lebanon. Sofia City Court ruled the man could be held for up to 40 days.
“During the period of temporary detention, the competent Lebanese authorities must submit an extradition request and supporting documents to the prosecutor’s office,” the statement said.
Grechushkin was placed on an Interpol wanted list at the request of Lebanese judicial authorities in 2020.
Lebanon’s probe into the blast and possible negligence by senior officials has repeatedly stalled and restarted over the past five years, with families of the victims alleging political interference.
The first investigative judge was removed from the case after complaints from senior officials he had charged. His successor, Tarek Bitar, also brought charges against high-ranking politicians, who refused to be questioned, denied wrongdoing and froze the investigation.
Bitar resumed the probe earlier this year and has questioned several officials in recent months, but has yet to issue a long-awaited preliminary indictment.
The explosion at Beirut’s port occurred five years ago. [focus.ua/world/460...](https://focus.ua/world/460389-vzryv-v-bejrute-iz-za-nebrezhnosti-pri-svarochnykh-rabotakh-vzorvalis-2700-tonn-selitry) It was caused by the detonation of 2,700 tons of ammonium nitrate that had been stored in a warehouse for years.
The blast’s vibrations were detected around the world - sensors in Tunisia and Germany picked up a deep rumble, and seismic stations as far as about 550 kilometers away recorded tremors.
