The silence of Russia about recent developments in the area of the oil port in Libya raises questions among those who are watching what is happening. Why Moscow is silent? Is this the beginning of dropping support commander army General Khalifa Haftorah, which was previously bet in the fight against terrorism?
After the “brigade of the defence of Benghazi” had taken control of the ports of es-sider and RAS lanuf, many Western countries made statements, in which he called for calm and avoid escalation of the conflict. Russia also chose to remain silent.
Despite the previously announced Moscow’s support for Khalifa the Haftarot, the position of Russia regarding the events in Libya remains unclear. According to observers, this suggests that among those persons there was a split in views. The Ministry of foreign Affairs supported the idea of negotiations to find a way out of the crisis between the Caliph Haftarot and the Presidential Council, headed by Faiz by Sarraj. Another opinion represented in the Ministry of defense and the Kremlin, where it is believed that it is necessary to provide full support to the Haftarot, that he had the opportunity to expand their control in Libya.
Despite the existing division, the head of private military company “RSB” Oleg Krinitsyn, says that the odds are on the side of those who favor complete support for the Haftarot.
The Krinitsyn told Reuters that dozens of hired soldiers from Russia until February of 2017 worked in Eastern Libya, which is under the control of the national army.
Observers believe that this is a clear indicator of Moscow’s willingness to provide diplomatic support for the Haftarah publicly, despite the fact that this may cause concern in Western countries who are already not happy with Russia’s intervention in Syria to support President Bashar al-Assad.
The Krinitsyn says, the presence of mercenary forces in Libya represented a certain commercial arrangement. However, in the opinion of the people working in the security sphere in Russia, it could hardly be feasible without the consent of Moscow.
The Krinitsyn added that the mercenaries were sent to the East of Libya last year and finished its work in February upon completion of his mission.
According to him, their job was to mine one of the industrial enterprises in the city of Benghazi in Eastern Libya. Previously, this district was liberated from Islamic militants by the forces of the Haftarot.
The Krinitsyn declined to say who hired the company and to disclose the name of the industrial facility. He also did not say whether the process of the approval of the government of Libya, which is currently considered the only legitimate authority and supported by the United Nations.
The question was whether this operation official approval from Moscow, the Krinitsyn said that his company is not working with the Ministry of defence of the Russian Federation, but there has been “consultation” with the Ministry of foreign Affairs.
He noted that the mercenaries did not participate in the fighting, however, had weapons, which they received in Libya. Name the type of weapon he refused. It should be noted that the import of arms to Libya is prohibited by the United Nations, and is only possible, if the weapon is in the introduction of the government of Libya supported international organization.
The Krinitsyn said that the mercenaries were ready to react in case of an attack.
“If we were attacked, we would certainly have joined in the fight to protect our lives and the lives of our customers. According to military science, the attack must follow the counter. This means that we would have to destroy the enemy.”
Military leadership and government officials in Eastern Libya, did not know about the existence of mercenaries. Haftar, in turn, to a request for comments not replied.
In Russia already there were cases of military use of private mercenary forces to expand the army. In the fighting in Syria’s extensive use of war of mercenaries along with Russian regular forces of Syria and allied forces. Moscow the use of private mercenary forces in Syria does not recognize.
