Azerbaijani citizens imprisoned in Libya released from jail

Baku, September 2, AZERTAC Three Azerbaijani citizens, who were imprisoned in Libya, were released on August 31, according to Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry. They were freed from jail following long negotiations between the ministry and appropriate Libyan authorities. Namig Salmanov, Movlud Rashidbayli and Farid Aliyev, all members of crew of Kalkanlar 1 vessel owned by a Turkish company, were declared missing last February. An investigation conducted by the Foreign Ministry established that the Azerbaijani citizens were taken hostage by the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group in the Libyan city of Sirte. After long negotiations, the citizens of Azerbaijan were released and brought to a territory controlled by the Libyan authorities, where they were accused of causing serious damage to Libya’s budget through illegal export of diesel fuel via the territory of the country. Requested by Azerbaijan`s Foreign Ministry – since Azerbaijan does not have an embassy in Libya – staff of the Turkish diplomatic mission in Libya visited the imprisoned Azerbaijani citizens and ensured their communication with members of their families by phone. On September 2, the Azerbaijani citizens were taken to Istanbul from where they were sent by a plane to Baku, the ministry said.