On Monday, the Russia President’s Special Envoy to the Middle East and North Africa, and Deputy Foreign Minister, Mikhail Bogdanov said that Moscow “respects and supports the choices of the Libyan people and their elected institutions, represented by the Libyan Parliament.”
This came in response to a question during the opening session of the annual conference on Middle East and North African Affairs in Moscow from 21-23 March.
Bogdanov stressed Russia’s continuous communication with all Libyan parties, referring to the visit of the Prime Minister of the Government of National Unity (GNU), Abdel-Hamid Dbaiba to Moscow last year. As well as the good relationship between Russian officials, and Prime Minister-designate Fathi Bashagha, when he served as the Interior Minister in the previous Government of National Accord (GNA).
He also indicated that the UN’s mediating role in Libya has no clear effect on the ground, due to the failure to hold elections as scheduled in December.
The Russian diplomat added that, “the current situation in Libya is exceptional,” adding that the UN so far has failed to find a successor to the outgoing UN envoy, Jan Kubis.
He stressed Russia’s keenness that the electoral process in Libya be, “fair and inclusive.”
Bogdanov reiterated that “excluding some parties from elections would lead some regions to not agree to the legitimacy and results of these elections.”
Earlier this month, Speaker of the Libyan Parliament, Ageela Saleh announced that they had unanimously appointed Bashagha as the new Prime Minister.
Dbaiba said in a speech that he would not hand over power until after elections. “Only elections will end the transitional stages,” he claimed.