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Russia is increasing its military presence in Libya. Translated for your convenience from Russian to English
The presence of the Russian military contingent in Libya was immediately reported by two publications - the British newspaper The Sun and the Russian portal RBC - each with reference to its own sources. The Sun newspaper claims that dozens of GRU agents and special forces detachments are already on the Mediterranean coast, with the support of the PMCs of Wagner. In turn, RBC reports that a source close to the Libyan authorities confirmed the publication of Russia's military activity in the region. The Russian side denies its presence in Libya.
"There is no military presence of the Russian Federation in Libya, the statements of the UK about Russia's alleged plans to" turn Libya into a new Syria "are a fantasy," Yury Shvytkin, deputy chairman of the Duma defense committee, told RIA Novosti.
International experts assure the opposite and emphasize: Russia has reasons to strengthen its position in the region.
“The Russians are already there, and they are trying to increase their presence - either at the expense of the official troops called by the local authorities, or at the expense of private military companies. This is a new tactic for expanding Russian influence in the region, ”emphasizes Chatham House expert Mathieu Buleg.
If the tactics are new, then cooperation between Libya and Russia has been going on for decades.
“For decades, Gaddafi has been the largest customer of Moscow, one of the largest buyers of weapons. Up to the time of its overthrow in 2011, great progress was made in concluding various contracts: for the construction of a road, for work with numerous oil and gas companies. Naturally, the revolution, the Arab Spring, the overthrow of Gaddafi broke off all these plans. Now it is not known what will happen to this long-suffering railway. It is also not clear what will happen with the contracts that have been promised to Russian companies, ”explains Dmitry Frolovsky, an independent expert on the Middle East.
[Issue 10/10/2018] Connected: Pavel Felgengauer - Novaya Gazeta military commentator In the studio: Ana Shulik - host Yevgeny Selts - chief editor of Iland Channel Live: +972 3 674 5263
Tsarizm.com by L Todd Wood
Russia is moving crack special forces, or Spetznaz, troops into the war-torn North African nation of Libya, that Hillary Clinton so famously destroyed, along with some of Moscow’s best weapons systems including the S-300 air defense system and Kalibr anti-ship missiles. The goal seems to be to gain control of the main migration route from the region into Europe, says a report delivered to U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May, reported Fox News.
Two Russian military bases are already now up and running in the coastal towns of Tobruk and Benghazi, using the cover of the controversial Russian private military company the Wagner Group which already has outposts there.
Tsarizm reported earlier in the year that Russia was teaming up with and supporting the powerful warlord General Khalifa Haftar in Eastern Libya, in an attempt to make it a ‘new Syria’.
Press service of the Libyan National Army accidentally leaked footage that show Wagner PMC chief Yevgeny Prigozhin at meeting between Marshal Khalifa Haftar and Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu.
مكتب الاعلام - القيادة العامة للقوات المسلحة الليبية
Published on Nov 7, 2018
مشاهد من لحظة وصول القائد العام للقوات المسلحة العربية الليبية المشير خليفة حفتر إلى مقر وزارة الدفاع الروسية في العاصة موسكو ولقائه بوزير الدفاع سيرغي شويغو
Information Office - General Command of the Libyan Armed Forces
Published on Nov 7, 2018
Scenes from the moment of the arrival of the Commander-in-Chief of the Libyan Armed Forces Marshal Khalifa Hafter to the headquarters of the Russian Defense Ministry in Moscow and his meeting with Defense Minister Sergei Shweigo
Lenta.ru translated for your convenience with Google services
The press service of the Libyan National Army on November 7 published a video of the arrival of its commander-in-chief, Marshal Khalifa Haftar, for talks with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu . Novaya Gazeta also drew attention to the video.
The video shows how the delegation headed by Haftar arrives for negotiations. Marshal is met by the Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov . They enter the building and then pass into the hall past the restaurateur Eugene Prigogine , who is the alleged owner of the so-called private military company (PMC) Wagner, who is standing near the door.
As Interfax reported with reference to the Russian Ministry of Defense, in the course of the negotiations issues of combating international terrorism and solving the crisis in Libya were discussed. It was also reported about the possibility of Haftar meeting with President Vladimir Putin , but the schedule of the head of state did not allow it, said the press secretary of the Russian leader, Dmitry Peskov .
In October, RBC , citing sources in the Ministry of Defense, reported on the transfer of a Russian military contingent to Libya. It was noted that the presence of Moscow is associated with interests in the oil and gas sector; The Sun, referring to a source in the British government, wrote that Russia is thus trying to influence the West.
Yevgeny Prigogine - Russian restaurateur, owner of the catering business. In the institutions of the businessman several times held events with the participation of Vladimir Putin. The president himself said that he knew Prigogine, but he was not in the circle of his friends.
In 2016, Prigogine came under US sanctions in connection with the conflict in the south-east of Ukraine. In addition, Washington has imposed restrictions on the Internet Research Agency, which is believed to be related to Prigogine’s structures, due to interference with the American elections. In addition, the businessman associated with the PMCs Wagner, participating, according to some, in the Syrian campaign.