Alexander Malkevich, the President of the Foundation for National Values Protection told TASS, that two Russian employees of the organization, Maxim Shugaley and Samer Hassan Ali Sueifan, who were arrested in Libya in May 2019, have not yet been charged and are under psychological pressure in prison.
On Wednesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held talks in Moscow with Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Council and Deputy Chairman of Libya's Government of National Accord Ahmed Maiteeq and GNA Foreign Minister Mohammed Siala. It was stated that the Russian citizens remaining in prison in Tripoli is the main obstacle to the progress of mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries. Libya was once again asked to free, as soon as possible and without preconditions, Russian citizens.
"The Foundation's employees have been in Mitiga prison for more than a year, since May 17, 2019. For many months, they are not allowed to see lawyers, the lawyer saw them once. They have not been formally charged, and there are no case files. The situation is difficult - they are under psychological pressure, " Malkevich said.
According to him, "the ball is now on the court of Tripoli and they must respond somehow."
"The simplest and most obvious solution is for them to return Russian citizens home. And after Maxim and Samer recover their strength, they will be ready to tell everything they know about the real state of affairs in Tripoli," the head of the foundation said.
He noted that the GNA of Libya "has given a clear, unambiguous signal that they do not intend to conduct any constructive business with them until two Russian citizens are released."
"And this is what I have been talking about for many months on all platforms and at every opportunity. I believe that this is a very important, even intermediate, victory for civil society, " Malkevich added.
The detention of the Russians
On July 5, 2019, Malkevich announced the detention in Libya of two Russian employees of the organization - Maxim Shugaley and Samer Hasan Ali Sueifan. According to him, both are accused of interfering in the elections. They are currently being held in a prison in the suburbs of Tripoli.
As stated on May 6 in the Russian Foreign Ministry, the Russian side "will continue its persistent efforts for the early and unconditional release of Maxim Shugaley and Samer Sueifan and will continue to use all available opportunities and channels of appropriate influence on the Libyan authorities".
The Ministry stressed that for several years they have been calling on Russian citizens to refrain from visiting Libya, and Russian organizations - from sending their employees there. The Foreign Ministry noted that they learned about Shugaley's trip and detention "only two months later from media reports."
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Dmitry Feoktistov / TASS