Russian charge d'affaires in Libya Jamshed Boltaev will maintain contacts with all parties to the Libyan conflict. "Of course, it is necessary, and I am ready to travel and communicate with the authorities of the Government of National Accord, and with the authorities in the East of the country," Boltaev said in an interview with RIA Novosti. "I plan to contact all parties in Libya and maintain contacts with all, including those who depend on the fate of our fellow citizens who are imprisoned in Libya," he said.
Russian citizens who are being held in a Libyan prison have not committed any crimes, they have not yet been charged, and there are prospects for their release, the charge d'affaires of Russia in Libya said. Boltaev stressed that he intends to visit the Russians in prison when he can make a trip to Tripoli.
In May last year, two Russian citizens, Maxim Shugaley and Samer Sueifan, employees of the Foundation for National Values Protection, were detained in Libya. The head of the criminal investigation department under the Prosecutor General of Libya claimed that the Russians were detained in Tripoli for trying to influence the upcoming elections.
"There are prospects. But I can't say when, I can't give any guarantees, because this is a foreign country, there is a war in the country, " Boltayev said. "You know that all the meetings with the Libyans and the Minister (of foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey - ed.) Lavrov, and the Deputy Minister (Mikhail-ed.) Bogdanov always raise this issue and say that they should be released, because they are being held without charges, they did not commit any crimes," the Russian diplomat said.
He stressed that it was still difficult to say something specific, "first of all, because I haven't actually started my work yet." "Secondly, the issue of the release of our fellow citizens held in prisons in other countries is a very complex and sensitive topic related to privacy issues," Boltaev added. "I don't want to get ahead of ourselves. I have some experience in this regard, I worked in Iraq, and there have been quite a few cases on the consular line where people have been put in prison for various reasons. The only thing I can say about our fellow citizens in Libya is that I will deal with this issue very closely, " he said.
According to him, now the Russians are in prison in the suburbs of Tripoli, he doesn't have information that they were taken to the Villa and to Istanbul, as some media wrote. "When I asked these questions to the Libyan charge d'affaires in Moscow, he said that they were in the prison where they were being held all this time, in the suburbs of Libya, and that when I arrived, I would be able to visit them. At least, there is such an agreement with the temporary attorney. Of course, protecting our citizens who are in prison without clear charges is one of the main tasks of any embassy. I will closely deal with this issue. They were accused of espionage, although public opinion research is not any espionage activity - they went there officially, received all permits, openly engaged in their work, did not hide from anyone, so the charges have no grounds," Boltaev added.
Russia does not supply weapons to Libya
Russia does not supply weapons to Libya, does not violate the UN Security Council embargo, the charge d'affaires of Russia in Libya said. "As for weapons in Libya - before the sanctions were imposed, we supplied weapons, but, of course, not now, and we do not violate the embargo," Boltayev said. He explained that it would be completely inappropriate for Russia to violate the embargo by supplying weapons.
The diplomat responded to reports of Russian mercenaries in Libya
Claims about the presence of Russian mercenaries in Libya are unreliable, the accusations against Russia are groundless and not supported by facts, Boltaev said. "Russia as a state does not support or encourage mercenary activities. This was stated by the President (Vladimir) Putin. If there are Russian citizens who, by the will of fate or by some other means, ended up in Libya or elsewhere, it means that they themselves took some steps, they are paid for it, but they violate Russian law," Boltaev said.
"The accusations against Russia as a state (in the presence of Russian mercenaries in Libya-ed.) are groundless. I would like to emphasize once again that the allegations about the presence of Russian mercenaries in Libya have not been confirmed. There are no facts, there are only unsubstantiated accusations, information is unreliable, " he said.
The diplomat reminded that " in Russia there is an article of the Criminal code that provides for criminal punishment for mercenary activities." "A mercenary is not a representative of the state, it is a private person who can hire another private person for some military or armed operations," Boltayev said.
Russia has repeatedly rejected accusations of involvement in the Libyan conflict, calling allegations of the alleged presence of Russian mercenaries there unfounded, while Moscow supports a peaceful settlement of the situation in this country and maintains contacts with both warring parties.
Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Russia reopened the Embassy in Libya, it would represent the interests of the Russian Federation throughout the country, while it would be based in Tunisia. The diplomatic mission of the Russian Federation was evacuated from the Libyan capital in August 2014 due to the aggravation of the situation in the country. In November 2018, Russian President Vladimir Putin relieved Russian Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Libya Ivan Molotkov of his duties. A new head of the diplomatic mission has not yet been appointed.
So far, according to Boltaev, there is no date for his departure to Tunisia, where the Russian diplomatic mission will be based. "I am ready to fly tomorrow, but for obvious reasons, I can't say when I will be there because of the continuing restrictions on air traffic in the world," the diplomat explained. He said that he would stay in Tunisia for security reasons, since the situation in Tripoli does not allow him to move there and work directly on the spot. "As for trips, I am sure that I will travel around the country, but it depends not only on my desire, but also on the balance of risks and security issues," he added.
After the overthrow and death of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, Libya effectively ceased to function as a single state. Now the country is ruled by dual power. The East is ruled by the Parliament elected by the people, and the West, in the capital Tripoli, - the Government of National Accord, formed with the support of the United Nations and the European Union, led by Sarraj. The authorities in the Eastern part of the country operate independently of Tripoli and cooperate with the Libyan National Army led by Marshal Khalifa Haftar, who has not stopped trying to capture Tripoli since April 2019.
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Based on materials from RIA Novosti