Libya’s Tripoli-based government says freed Russian nationals from detention, Russia denies
Libya’s Tripoli-based Government of National Accord has released two Russian nationals who have been in detention for more than a year, local Al-Hadath television reported citing unnamed sources.
Russia’s foreign ministry has however denied the development.
“The Russian foreign ministry does not confirm this information,” a ministry official told TASS news agency.
Maksim Shugalei and Samer Hasan Ali Sueifan, employees of the Russian non-profit organization Foundation for National Values Protection, were detained in 2019 accused of meddling in Libya’s domestic affairs and elections, and of conducting public activities in the country without permission from local authorities and security agencies.
Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on July 18 that Russia had received written guarantees of the Libyan Government of National Accord that the issues of the Russian nationals’ release would be resolved soon.
In its report, Al-Hadath television said the two Russians had arrived in Istanbul, Turkey, on Saturday. No further details were given.
