MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The Russian Embassy in Tripoli has not confirmed on Friday the release of the crew of a Russian oil tanker seized in September.
Earlier in the day, head of the Russian Chechen Republic Ramzan Kadyrov, who was previously involved in negotiations with the Libyan side, said the crew had been released and would arrive in Moscow later in the day.
"I can neither confirm nor deny this information at the moment," first secretary of the Russian embassy in Libya Sergei Filippov told RIA Novosti.
On September 16, forces loyal to the Tripoli-based Libyan government, which is not recognized internationally, had seized the Russian oil tanker Mekhanik Chebotarev and detained 12 Russian crew members on suspicion of oil contraband when the ship was en route to the northwestern Libyan port of Zuwarah. Two of the crew members were released later.
