Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, stated that the presence of Russian prisoners in Tripoli was the main obstacle to bilateral cooperation between the Kremlin, and the Government of National Accord (GNA).
This came after his meeting on Wednesday with the Vice President of the GNA, Ahmed Maetiq, and Foreign Minister Mohamed Siala. The Libyan officials arrived in Moscow to discuss the Libyan conflict with Russian officials.
This visit occurred after Monday’s discussion between Maetiq, and the US Ambassador to Libya, Richard Norland.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister of the GNA, Fayez Al Sarraj, is in Ankara to discuss political solutions to Libya’s crisis.
Oil-rich Libya has been mired in chaos since the ouster and killing of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. It now has two rival authorities and a multitude of militias vying for control of the country.
The country’s internationally recognised government is based in Tripoli, while Khalifa Haftar, the commander of the Libyan National Army, is supported by a parallel administration based in the east.