The arrest of Igor Grechushkin in Bulgaria earlier this month has breathed new life into the long-stalled investigation into the devastating 2020 Beirut port explosion, one of the deadliest non-nuclear blasts in modern history. For years, questions of accountability have swirled around the catastrophic detonation of nearly 3,000 tons of ammonium nitrate, which leveled much of Beirut’s port and surrounding neighborhoods, killing more than 200 people and injuring thousands more. Now, with Grechushkin in custody, pressure is once again mounting on Lebanese authorities to deliver justice.

Bulgaria’s Ministry of Interior confirmed that Grechushkin, who holds both Russian and Cypriot citizenship, was arrested at Sofia Airport shortly after midnight on September 5. He had arrived on a flight from Cyprus when border authorities flagged an Interpol red notice in his name.

“The man did not resist being detained, requested a meeting with a lawyer, and after talking with them, he fully cooperated with the Border Police,” a ministry spokesperson told the Bulgarian investigative outlet BIRD. The arrest was made without incident, though his Bulgarian lawyer declined to comment when approached by journalists.

Lebanese judicial sources had hinted earlier this month that an arrest had taken place, but confirmation came only after Bulgarian officials publicly acknowledged Grechushkin’s detention. His capture represents one of the most significant developments in years for a case that has been mired in political interference, judicial gridlock, and widespread public disillusionment.

Grechushkin’s name has been linked to the Beirut disaster since the early days of the investigation. Media

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