On 12 December, the Russian Embassy in Libya renewed its warning to Russians not to travel to Libya for personal and tourism-related purposes, as there is still a danger to life and health. According to the embassy, this is especially the case in the western part of the country. It is dangerous to travel to Libya for unofficial purposes, as the military and political situation is still very tense. The Embassy emphasizes that this warning includes transit through Libya by any means of transportation.
In a reaction to this statement, the Government of National Unity’s (GNU) Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) called on the Russian MFA to clarify the motivation and reasons for this travel warning. Referring to the recent arrest of a Russian citizen, the GNU MFA underlined Libya’s commitment to maintaining security and the rule of law and expressed its interest in constructive cooperation with friendly nations. The GNU expressed its strong rejection of what it described as Russia’s abuse of the image of security and stability achieved by the Libyan government.