Bulgaria arrests Russian shipowner in relation to deadly 2020 Beirut blast

Police in Bulgaria have arrested the Russian owner of a ship that brought the explosive material that detonated at Beirut port in August 2020, killing more than 200 people, Bulgarian media said on Tuesday, Report informs via Reuters.

Igor Grechushkin, a Russian businessman based in Cyprus, was detained for possible extradition to Lebanon, where he is wanted for his role in the blast, Bulgarian National Radio and other outlets said.

Authorities in Bulgaria did not comment on the case, but Bulgaria's prosecutor's office said in a statement on Tuesday that it had detained a Russian and Cypriot dual citizen with the initials I.G. "for the purpose of extradition" to Lebanon.

The Sofia City Court ruled that the man could be held for up to 40 days, it said.

"During the period of temporary detention, the competent authorities of Lebanon shall provide the Prosecutor's Office with the extradition request and accompanying documents," the statement said.