The Libyan Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy in Ukraine, Adel Bin Issa, called on the Ukrainian authorities to release a Libyan citizen detained in a Ukrainian prison.
In a statement on Saturday, the Foreign Ministry said that Bin Issa appealed to the Ukrainian authorities to release the Libyan detainee quickly. This given the current events in Ukraine and for the sake of his safety during these difficult circumstances.
The diplomat confirmed that the initiative to release the Libyan citizen will receive great interest and solidarity with the “friendly country” to overcome its current crisis.
The Libyan side discussed with officials at the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry a number of issues of concern to both sides, especially with regard to facilitating the evacuation of Libyan nationals through the Ukrainian ports.
“The meeting dealt with facilitating the return of Libyan nationals in Ukraine to the homeland, and overcoming the difficulties in front of them,” the statement noted.
Thursday, the Foreign Ministry said it evacuated 1,200 citizens from Ukraine amid Russia’s war on Ukraine.
The Ministry said in a statement that they are in “full coordination” with the Libyan Embassy in Ukraine, and that Libyan citizens were evacuated from Kyiv, Odessa, Kharkiv and Sumy.
The statement added that the evacuations were made via Ukraine’s neighbouring countries Poland, Slovakia and Romania.
On March 2nd, Bin Issa said more than 1,500 Libyan citizens in Ukraine left it through European ports.
“The number of stranded Libyans who crossed the European ports (Slovakia, Poland, and Romania) through the Embassy or on their own until today, exceeded 1,500 citizens, and they are in good health,” Bin Issa added.
The Libyan Embassy in Ukraine has been temporarily moved from Kyiv, to the western city of Lviv, near the Polish border. “The move was a result of the military operations, and the deterioration of the situation in Kyiv,” Bin Issa explained.
Libya’s Foreign Ministry previously advised citizens residing in Ukraine to leave, and called for those planning to travel to postpone their trips at this time.