Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Emilian Gebrev 100% sure Russian operatives are behind explosions at ammunition depot: The Guardian

Emilian Gebrev
Photo: EPA/BGNES

Arms dealer Emilian Gebrev is “100% sure” that Russian operatives were behind an explosion and subsequent fire at one of his depots in the country on Sunday.

“There is no way this could be an accident, there was nothing in the building that could have detonated without outside interference,” Emilian Gebrev said in a telephone interview with The Guardian.

It is the fifth time in recent years that blasts have occurred at facilities belonging to Emco, Gebrev’s arms company. Bulgarian prosecutors have linked previous attacks to Russian operatives, the Guardian writes.

Gebrev fell into a coma in 2015 and western authorities and intelligence agencies believe he was poisoned with the nerve agent novichok by officers from Russian military intelligence, the GRU. He said this weekend’s fire was likely to be their work as well.

Whatever the reason, Gebrev has apparently made powerful enemies in Russia. Between 2011 and 2020, blasts hit four warehouses and production facilities linked to his company. Last year, the Bulgarian foreign ministry expelled a Russian diplomat over suspected Russian involvement in the blasts, and called on Moscow to help with the investigation, The Guardian writes. 



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Boyko Borissov denies there is pressure from Peevski on the ruling party

GERB leader Boyko Borissov denied that there was pressure from the leader of DPS-New Beginning, sanctioned under the global Magnitsky Act, Delyan Peevski, to be in power. He expressed confidence in the future of the cabinet due to..

published on 3/20/25 2:54 PM
Alternative routes for trucks

Traffic on Danube Bridge near Ruse will be suspended on March 27

On March 27, traffic on the Danube Bridge near Ruse on the border with Romania will be suspended because of the ongoing major repairs. The passage of passenger cars will be limited from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., and that of heavy..

published on 3/20/25 1:51 PM

74 percent of young people are thinking about emigrating, over 20% are ready to leave Bulgaria

74% of Bulgarian young people are more or less considering the idea of ​​ emigrating abroad, according to a study in Southeast Europe conducted by the Friedrich Ebert Foundation. 9,000 people between the ages of 14 and 29 were..

published on 3/20/25 1:21 PM