Russia seeks return of nationals held in Libya

Russia will continue to insist that the rights of its citizens held in Libya are observed and will continue to try to secure their return home, the Russian Foreign Ministry's spokesman for human rights Konstantin Dolgov said. "Russia will strive for the soonest return of our citizens," he said. "We are counting on them having an objective hearing with full observance of international standards...we are not interfering in the judicial process, and we will continue to insist that their rights are fully observed," he said. Vladimir Dolgov and Alexander Shadrov, who were working for a Libyan service company, were arrested in August 2011 along with several Ukrainian and Belorussian citizens. The new Libyan government accused them of assisting the forces of the former Gaddafi regime. The next hearing in their court case will be held on May 21.