Twenty-three Ukrainians who were held in captivity in Libya for three years and accused of aiding the regime of Muammar Gaddafi were released late on Thursday, August 28, Ukraine's Television News Service (TSN) has reported, citing Archpriest Zakhariy Kerstiuk, who was in charge of a humanitarian mission in Libya and regularly visited the Ukrainians in captivity.
According to the report, the Ukrainians have already left Libya and are in a safe place. According to Kerstiuk, they were examined by doctors and there is no threat to their lives, but their chronic diseases became more acute, and some of them will have to undergo psychological rehabilitation.
“At the same time, the hostages are in a buoyant mood, because they did not believe they will be released. And they are preparing to return home soon,” reads the statement.
Interfax-Ukraine has not yet obtained an official confirmation of this report.
“We do not comment on this report,” the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry’s press service told the agency.
As reported, the Libyan insurgent brigade Al Qa’qaa had captured Russian, Ukrainian and Belarusian citizens (25 people in total) on August 27, 2011. All of them were accused of restoring military hardware the Muammar Gaddafi regime used “to exterminate the Libyan people.”
In June 2012, the Tripoli military court had sentenced 19 Ukrainians to 10 years in prison for aiding and abetting the Gaddafi regime on June 4, 2012. One Russian also received a life sentence, and another Russian and 3 Belarusians were sentenced to 10 years in prison each.
