Three Ukrainians have been released from detention in Libya and have returned home, the press secretary of the Foreign Ministry of Ukraine, Oleksandr Dykusarov, has told Interfax-Ukraine.
"Three Ukrainians have indeed returned from Libya recently – namely a woman from Ukraine, who was among those detained in Tripoli, and two other Ukrainian citizens that were detained by Libyans during the active military phase. Ukrainian diplomats strived to free them," Dykusarov said.
He added that "this work is very difficult and delicate in the current situation" and today all efforts of diplomats are focused on Ukrainians that are being kept in detention in Tripoli and near the Mitiga Airport.
"Yesterday our diplomats visited them. They regularly pass necessary things, medicines, and food to the detainees. When our diplomats visit the detained Ukrainians, they have an opportunity to talk to their relatives and friends by phone," the diplomat said.
He added that the Foreign Ministry is monitoring the state of the detainees’ health.
"Unfortunately, the places where they a kept are not high class hotels, but at the same time these are not Libyan prisons. And, thank God, we managed to prevent their imprisonment in Libyan prisons, where, by the way, more than 5,000 foreign citizens, including Europeans, are being held," Dykusarov said.
"We’re taking every chance to hold talks with the Libyan authorities, the revolutionary brigades and our partners in other countries. But, unfortunately, our people have become prisoners of the instability in Libya and the lack of clear coordination of the actions of the [Libyan] authorities," the diplomat said.
