Libyan FM to visit Moscow on Tuesday

Libyan Foreign Minister Mohamed Abdulaziz is to pay a visit to Russia on Tuesday , a source at the Russian foreign ministry’s media department said on Friday.In a statement carried by Russian (Itar-Tass) news agency, the source said the Libyan minister will meet during the visit which duration was not disclosed , with a number of russian officials said to be focussing on enhancing ties of joint economic cooperation , the current situation in Syria and weapons’ smuggling operations into the region.In a related development, Russia’s Foreign Ministry said on Friday that Libya is ready to work for the release of Russian citizens Alexander Shadrov and Vladimir Dolgov, found guilty of collaborating with former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi’s regime.They were among a group of Belarusian, Ukrainian and Russian nationals convicted by Libya’s Supreme Military Court in June 2012 of aiding the Gaddafi regime in repairing military equipment used by governmental troops against the opposition. Shadrov, found to be the group’s organiser, was sentenced to life imprisonment. Dolgov, three Belarusians and 19 Ukrainians were jailed for 10 years, (Itar-Tass) reported.“In Tripoli, representatives of Russia’s foreign ministry and some other departments held talks with Libya’s prosecutor general, chief military prosecutor, first deputy justice minister and the foreign ministry,” a Russian ministry statement said. “Members of the working group also visited Zintan, northwestern Libya, to meet the Russian convicts and discuss their prison conditions with representatives of the local administration.”“The Russians… said their imprisonment conditions had significantly improved and made no health-related complaints,” the ministry said adding, “During these contacts, the Libyan side received arguments in favour of the soonest possible release of Alexander Shadrov and Vladimir Dolgov and their return to Russia.”The ministry further said, “Representatives of competent Libyan ministries expressed readiness to provide assistance in resolving this humanitarian issue in the spirit of traditionally friendly relations existing between Russia and Libya and in compliance with Libya’s legislation.”