Two detained Russians released in Libya

10 December 2020

 

Russian sociologist Maxim Shugaley and his interpreter Samer Swayfan, who had been held in prison since last May, were released in Libya, Alexander Malkevich, a member of the Public Chamber and head of the National Values Protection Foundation, told RIA Novosti.


"This was made possible as a result of the most difficult almost special operation carried out by the Russian Defense Ministry and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as thanks to the efforts of other organizations, which will be named separately," Malkevich wrote in his Telegram channel.


He especially thanked Mikhail Bogdanov, the Deputy Foreign Minister and Special Presidential Representative for the Middle East and Africa.


Bogdanov himself confirmed that the Russians had been released. According to him, they will arrive in Russia on Thursday night.


Earlier, it was reported that Tripoli and Moscow had agreed to release the Russians in October.


The head of criminal investigations at the Libyan attorney general's office claimed that the Russians were detained in Tripoli in 2019 for trying to influence upcoming elections. They were kidnapped and placed in prison.


The Russian side denied all accusations. According to Malkevich, the research team was engaged solely in sociological surveys.

 

GSV "Russia - Islamic World"

Photo: AP / TASS

Based on materials from RIA Novosti