You're reading: Belarus says trying to rescue Belarusians accused in Libya of pro-Gaddafi activities

Belarus will press for the "acquittal and repatriation" of two Belarusians who are on trial in Libya on suspicion of helping the forces of toppled dictator Muammar Gaddafi, Belarusian Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Savinykh told Interfax on Monday, Apr. 9.

The two Belarusian nationals as well some Russians went on trial in Tripoli on Monday on charges of collaboration with Gaddafi’s forces. Twenty Ukrainians have been presented with similar charges.

Savinykh said the Belarusian Embassy in Libya is giving all forms of help to the two Belarusians.

"The charges against our fellow citizens are false. The Belarusian nationals have voluntarily gone to Libya to work at civilian facilities under civilian contracts that they signed," Savinykh said. "They haven’t even started work but have just crossed the Libyan border."

Belarus is coordinating its actions with the Russian and Ukrainian embassies in Libya.