Russian, Libyan FMs to discuss Syria, Egypt, fate of Russians in Libya

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will meet with his Libyan counterpart Mohamed Abdelaziz in Moscow on September 10 to discuss the situation in Syria and Egypt, and the case of Russian citizens detained in Libya. Abdelaziz’ visit to Moscow will allow the two countries to “conduct an in-depth exchange of opinions on pressing international and regional issues, including the evolution of the situation in Syria and around it, the latest developments in Egypt and Tunisia, as well as other issues of mutual interest,” the Foreign Ministry said on Saturday, September 7. Lavrov will also raise the issue of Russian citizens Alexander Shadrov and Vladimir Dolgov detained in Libya and will call for their release at the earliest opportunity. The case of Shadrov and Dolgov, convicted in Libya for assistance to former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi’s regime, has been referred to a civil court for review. The verdict on Shadrov and Dolgov, handed down by Libya’s high military tribunal, has been annulled, head of the consulate department of the Russian Embassy in Libya Denis Knyshev said in August. “The High Military Tribunal of Libya passed a ruling on the appeal, according to which the Russian citizens’ case was handed over for review by a civil court. The previous verdict has been annulled,” Knyshev said. The country’s prosecutor general's office will decide if it should change the charges brought by military prosecutors. “The status of the Russian citizens has changed from convicts to detainees,” the diplomat said. In June 2012, the High Military Tribune found a group of Belarussian, Russian and Ukrainian nationals guilty of assistance to Gaddafi’s regime and attempted murder through reparing military hardware used by the government troops against the opposition. Shadrov, declared the organiser of the group, was sentenced to life imprisonment. Dolgov, as well as three Belarusian nationals and 19 Ukrainians were sentenced to ten years in prison. “Representatives of competent Libyan ministries expressed readiness to provide assistance in resolving this humanitarian issue in the spirit of traditionally friendly relations existing between Russia and Libya and in compliance with Libya’s legislation,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said. “Special attention at the Moscow talks will be paid to political processes in modern Libya, the efforts of the Libyan leadership to restore peaceful life and create effective government structures, army and law enforcement agencies,” the Foreign Ministry said. “Russia firmly supports the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of friendly Libya. Moscow is sincerely interested that Libyans overcome the complications and problems of the transitional period as soon as possible and achieve stability and prosperity. This will undoubtedly have a positive effect on the situation in the region as a whole and create favourable conditions for restoration and further development of mutually advantageous Russian-Libyan cooperation,” the ministry said. Lavrov and Abdelaziz will “discuss in detail the tasks related to further advancement of bilateral relations, including in such fields as trade, economy, energy and investments.” The ministry believes that “there are necessary prerequisites for boosting interaction between our countries, primarily in the fuel and energy sector. In 2012, Russian-Libyan trade turnover reached a record level in the past 12 years, totalling 250 million U.S. dollars.”