Bulgaria has suspended the transfer of Grechushkin to Lebanon due to the threat of the death penalty.

Bulgaria has suspended the extradition of Russian Igor Grechushkin to Lebanon due to the threat of the death penalty. This was announced on November 10 by Nova TV channel.

"The Sofia City Court has postponed the extradition case against Igor Grechushkin, the owner of the ship that exploded in Lebanon, killing more than 200 people in 2020," the publication says.

Grechushkin, who was detained in Bulgaria on an Interpol warrant on September 6, is charged in Lebanon with six articles punishable by death. In this regard, the Bulgarian authorities demanded guarantees from Lebanon that the extradited person would not be sentenced to death. The deadline for receiving them is set for December 1.

Igor Grechushkin is the owner of a ship that exploded in the port of Beirut in 2020, causing widespread destruction and numerous casualties. Grechushkin's extradition to Lebanon is currently suspended until the necessary guarantees are received.

Grechushkin was detained on September 16. The man was put on the wanted list at the request of the Lebanese judicial authorities. On September 21, it was reported that Russia was monitoring the situation surrounding Grechushkin's detention. It was clarified that, if necessary, employees of the consular department of the embassy are ready to provide assistance to a citizen of the Russian Federation.

The explosion in the port of Beirut occurred on August 4, 2020. As a result of the incident, 137 people were killed, about 5 thousand were injured, and several dozen are missing. At the same time, about 300 thousand people lost their homes. Over a hundred buildings were destroyed and damaged due to the explosion. The damage was estimated at several billion dollars.

The next day, it was reported that the owner of the Rhosus ship that exploded and was detained in Beirut was Russian Igor Grechushkin. After the detention of the ship in Beirut, the man was forced to pay a penalty, and subsequently initiated bankruptcy proceedings. It is unknown who became the owner of the vessel after Grechushkin.

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