Libyan authorities in Tripoli announced on Thursday the release of two Russians who were detained in May 2019 on espionage charges.
The authorities affirmed the release of Maxim Shugaley and his interpreter Samir Hasan Ali Seifan, which took place in coordination with the Foreign Ministry of Fayez al-Sarraj-led Government of National Accord (GNA).
The detainees were held in a prison affiliated with the GNA on charges including their direct link to a research center of Russia’s Wagner Group.
Pictures released by pro-GNA local media showed the deportation of the two Russians.
According to Libyan and Russian sources, a Russian plane headed to Mitiga International Airport in the capital, Tripoli, to repatriate the citizens.
The Russian government had argued that these people were academic researchers affiliated with a think tank.
But the GNA said that the two Russian citizens were intelligence agents who were conducting field research associated with the Wagner private military company.
It said they were conspiring with Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, the son of Libya’s former leader Muammar Gaddafi, to manipulate the results of the elections and take power in the country.
