Belarus fighting for release of its nationals in Libya

MINSK, 15 August (BelTA) – The Foreign Ministry of Belarus continues working on unconditional release of Belarusian nationals in Libya, spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry Andrei Savinykh told BelTA as he commented on the decision made by the military court of Libya to vacate its judgment in relation to a group of Belarusians, Ukrainians and Russians accused of serving as mercenaries for ousted leader Muammar Gaddafi.

The official representative of the Foreign Ministry of Belarus stressed: “We are still far from the result we need, i.e. an unconditional release of the Belarusian nationals. This decision, however, is an important and serious step in the right direction.” In his words, “it is the results of the efforts of the embassies of Belarus, Ukraine and Russia.”

The ruling of the military court was reversed following the appeal proceedings and the transfer of the case to the civil court.

According to the earlier reports, on 4 June 2012 the military court of Tripoli sentenced four nationals of Belarus as well as citizens of Ukraine and Russia to 10 years in prison for aiding Gaddafi’s regime.

The Foreign Ministry of Belarus has repeatedly emphasized the innocence of the Belarusian nationals and Belarus’ intention to prove it in the court. The nationals of Belarus have arrived in Libya to work exclusively on civil facilities. They are all of the retirement age.