Bulgarian arms depot explosions (2011–2020)

Four explosions between 2011 and 2020 hit Bulgarian arms and ammunition facilities, including Lovnidol (2011), two blasts at VMZ-Sopot's Iganovo depot (2015) and the Arsenal plant near Maglizh. Bulgarian prosecutors charged six Russian nationals, who entered under false identities, with terrorism and issued European Arrest Warrants. Prosecutors said in 2021 the six were believed to be GRU agents and the case may be linked to the 2015 poisoning of arms dealer Emilian Gebrev.

Established by. Bulgarian Prosecutor's Office, 28 Apr 2021: at least six Russians believed to be GRU agents were in Bulgaria around the blasts; prosecutors cited a 'reasonable assumption' of a link to the Gebrev poisoning and the 2014 Vrbětice blast. The six were charged in 2021 with terrorism (Art. 108a(1) Criminal Code); the Sofia City Prosecutor's Office reissued European Arrest Warrants on 30 Jan 2024.

Latest. Suspects at large, not tried; EAWs reissued January 2024.