In a statement on Thursday, the Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed that it is working on the release of Russian sociologist Maxim Shogali, who was arrested in early 2019 in Tripoli.
The statement clarified that Russia would continue its efforts for the immediate and unconditional release of Shogali and his translator.
It also confirmed that it would continue to use all diplomatic and media capabilities to achieve his release.
Moscow called on its citizens to refrain from visiting Libya and for organizations to stop sending staff to the country, citing the risks associated with these trips.
Shogali, a political adviser to the Moscow-based Foundation for the Defense of National Values, was officially invited to Tripoli by the Government of National Accord (GNA) to research popular opinion in Libya and analyze possible solutions to the Libyan crisis.
According to local reports, the researchers had obtained information that would expose the internal affairs of the GNA to the international community, including the extent to which armed groups controlled the capital and engaged in violations against civilians.
He was arrested by armed groups aligned to the GNA at Tripoli’s Mitiga International Airport in May 2019.
