Bulgaria arrested Mr. Igor Grechushkin (https://shorturl.at/KHJoe) who had been questioned in Cyprus back in 2020 at the request of the Lebanese officials (https://shorturl.at/WvI5Z).
Mr. Grechushkin’s abandoned ship initially brought the ammonium nitrate that detonated at Beirut port on the doomed August 4th 2020. The outcome was a catastrophe beyond imagination: the destruction of a large part of the Lebanese capital, the killing over 200 innocent people, including toddlers, and the injury of over 6,500 people. Some of the latter are still hospitalized. Can you imagine?
It is unclear what will happen next. If Bambi understands well, her birth country seems to have 40 days to seek Mr. Grechushkin’s extradition to question him, according to the Bulgarian law (https://shorturl.at/BK9fq).
Regardless of the next legal steps or the role played by this man (if any), the Lebanese top officials had seven years to act responsibly to prevent this man-made tragedy. Sadly, they did not. All those who knew about the ammonium nitrate closed their eyes. Some even closed their hearts in the days following the tragedy. Will the delayed, and at times attacked, justice be served one day?
As a reminder, it is the heart-warming Lebanese people themselves who rushed to Beirut, from all the regions, to support their fellow citizens and to help them clean and heal. They filled the gap left by their government. They literally became the government.
It is also the generous and compassionate international community who rushed to Lebanon to help. Volunteers and workers, from all over the world, provided medical aid, food, other essential material, and shelter. They validated the traumatic experience of Beirutis. Many citizens of the world, including Canadians, generously made donations or found creative ways to raise funds.
Similarly, many world governments helped, including Canada. Thanks to everyone.
May lessons be learned from this tragedy to prevent future ones in Lebanon and elsewhere. May the memory of all those who died be eternal. Much love to the families of the victims and to those still in the coma or permanently disabled. Most significantly, may justice finally be served and in a fair way, without scapegoating OR excluding anyone (no one is above the law).
