The long-stalled probe into the catastrophic 2020 explosion at Beirut’s port has gained fresh momentum following the detention of a key figure connected to the incident, Lebanese authorities confirmed this week.
Justice Minister Adel Nassar stated that the investigation is now “advancing rapidly and with determination,” marking a significant shift after years of stagnation. His comments came after the September 5 arrest of Igor Grechushkin in Bulgaria, who had arrived from Cyprus carrying both Cypriot and Russian passports.
Grechushkin was the lessee of the vessel that transported approximately 3,000 tons of ammonium nitrate to Beirut in 2013. The hazardous material was subsequently offloaded and stored in a port warehouse, where it remained for seven years despite repeated safety warnings before detonating in one of history’s most devastating non-nuclear blasts, claiming 218 lives and injuring around 7,000 people.
“Our team is preparing the necessary documentation and pushing for swift action,” Nassar explained. “I’ve personally requested a meeting with Bulgaria’s ambassador to expedite the extradition process. By next week, the formal request should be in their hands.”
The arrest has injected new life into an investigation that faced intense criticism for its lack of progress under previous administrations. Since a new government took office earlier this year, cooperation among judicial authorities has been restored, according to Nassar.
Grechushkin’s legal representative in Bulgaria, Ekaterina Dimitrova, noted that her client had previously traveled freely, including to Lebanon, where he was questioned but not detained. “Lebanese investigators even traveled to Cyprus to interview him. He shared everything he knew about the case, but no detention order was issued then,” she said.
Parliamentarian Melhem Khalaf characterized the arrest as proof that the case remains active both domestically and internationally. However, he cautioned that while this development provides a practical opportunity through potential extradition, it isn’t a cure-all without completing judicial procedures and removing internal barriers to justice.
Zeina Wakim of Accountability Now, a group combating impunity in Lebanon, welcomed the news but emphasized that investigators should broaden their scope. “This arrest demonstrates the judiciary’s ability to pursue individuals globally when motivated. But the focus must extend beyond warehouse negligence to encompass the broader corruption network that enabled this tragedy. Grechushkin represents just one element of a much larger puzzle.”