Why Bulgaria’s Court Refused to Extradite the Beirut Blast Shipowner
In a decision with profound legal and diplomatic implications, a court in Sofia, Bulgaria, has refused Lebanon’s request to extradite Igor Grechushkin, the Russian-Cypriot businessman identified as the owner of the ship that carried the ammonium nitrate which caused the catastrophic Beirut port explosion in 2020. The ruling hinges on a fundamental principle of international law: the prohibition of the death penalty.
Grechushkin, 48, was arrested at Sofia Airport in September. Lebanese authorities sought his extradition on serious charges, including “introducing explosives into Lebanon—a terrorist act that resulted in the death of a large number of people.” The August 4, 2020, blast, one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in history, killed more than 220 people, injured over 6,500, and devastated vast areas of the Lebanese capital.
Despite the gravity of the accusations, the Sofia City Court denied the extradition request. Grechushkin’s lawyer, Ekaterina Dimitrova, stated the core reason: “Lebanon did not provide guarantees that, if he were sentenced to death, the sentence would not be carried out.” Bulgaria, like all European Union member states, is bound by the Charter of Fundamental Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights, which forbid extraditing individuals to countries where they could face capital punishment without ironclad assurances.
The ruling underscores a critical legal safeguard but also highlights the complex journey toward accountability for the Beirut tragedy. Lebanese authorities assert that Grechushkin owned the Rhosus, the vessel that transported the ammonium nitrate later stored haphazardly in a port warehouse for years. The blast was triggered by a fire igniting the neglected chemical cargo.
The investigation in Lebanon has been mired in political and legal obstacles for over four years, with proceedings against former senior officials, including ex-Prime Minister Hassan Diab, repeatedly stalled. Against this backdrop, the Bulgarian court’s decision places procedural human rights guarantees above the immediate demands of the Lebanese judiciary.
The Bulgarian prosecution has seven days to appeal the decision to the Sofia Court of Appeal, whose verdict will be final. Until then, Grechushkin remains in custody.
This case illustrates the tense intersection of justice, sovereignty, and human rights. For the families of Beirut’s victims, the ruling may feel like another delay. For international legal observers, it reaffirms the rigorous standards that govern cross-border judicial cooperation, even in the face of unimaginable tragedy.
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