Two Russians detained in Libya on spying charges head home

Libya Un-backed Government of National Accord, GNA, has freed two Russians detained since 2019 on alleged spying charges, Russian foreign ministry said Thursday.

Spokeswoman for the ministry Maria Zakharova said the Russian side is “satisfied” with the decision of the Libyan authorities to free Maxim Shugaley and Samer Hasan Ali Sueyfan, and thanked everyone who assisted in their release.

The two Russians reportedly had already returned to Moscow.

Their release came following an agreement between Moscow and the GNA, back in October. The Tripoli-based Libyan administration blamed the two Russian nationals who entered the North African country as researchers for working on behalf of Saif al-Islam, son of former leader Muammar Gaddafi.

Russia, present in Libya where it backs GNA’s rival government, is pushing for Saif’s return to politics and eventually to power as part of efforts to reconstruct the North African country now in shambles following the NATO-backed revolution against Gaddafi in 2011.