Libya: Life after death

Life after death - this is how one can characterize the events happening in Libya living without Gaddafi for six months. Supporters of the murdered "dictator" are tortured and killed in secret prisons. For the "glorification of the Colonel" one can be jailed for life, and the Libyan authorities trial Russian citizens violating all norms of diplomatic law, without letting Moscow know.

A year ago, in May of 2011, NATO bombs were exploding over Libya. Civilians, including small grandchildren of the Colonel, were killed, and the West tried to convince itself and others that the brutal regime of dictator Gaddafi will fall to the delight of all in the very near future. "The near future" was delayed until late October when the regime of the Colonel was broken down in Libya, however, the long awaited well-being did not rush into the country.

The UN does not cease to be horrified by the change in what not so long ago was a blooming country. "The UN Mission in Libya has recently expressed its deep concern over the deaths of three prisoners in a jail in Misrata that is formally subordinate to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Libya," said the special representative of UN Secretary General Ian Martin in Libya. "All these people died on April 13, and we have reliable information that their death was the result of torture." All in all, according to the UN, about four thousand supporters of the dead dictator are kept in secret prisons.

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Can you imagine what an incredible surprise? Instead of providing brotherly embraces to the fooled unfortunate brothers liberated from the yoke of the tyrant and explaining them how their were horribly tormented by Gaddafi, the new government in the most democratic way put them in jail and tortured with all the humanity.  

If any supporters still walking around free dare to make an incredible stupid statement, like "it was better under Gaddafi," they may have to pay for their political short-sightedness. A few days ago Libya passed a law that would bring tears to the eyes of the Democrats of the West. Henceforth it is forbidden to praise the overturned regime, miss Jamahiriya, speak well of Muammar Gaddafi, or one of his sons, living or dead. His daughter cannot be praised either as it would undermine the existing system and "weaken the morale of the Libyans." This can be punished by imprisonment for life.

Against this background, it is pretty funny to read about the "doubts" of the Western human rights defenders who are not sure whether the son of Gaddafi Saif al-Islam arrested last year will be provided "a fair trial" in Libya. Indeed, for the sake of a severe but fair trial of ex-revolutionary successor of the Libyan leader he was not given to The Hague. The Libyan leadership explains this by saying that the country has achieved some sort of "progress" in investigating such cases.

The verdict in the case of "the Libyan Prince" was promised no later than mid-June, and Saif said in April that he intended to defend himself without a lawyer.  

Russia that had the imprudence to support the insurgents too late, now fully "enjoys" the "love and respect" from the official Tripoli. Recently, Libya has begun a trial of the Russians (as well as Ukrainians and Belarusians) accused of aiding al-Gaddafi. Russian citizens Alexander Dolgov and Vladimir Shadrov are accused of "repairing the equipment" of the dictator that helped him to "destroy the civilian population."  

It should be noted that Tripoli did not consider it necessary to let Moscow know that a trial was scheduled for the citizens of the Russian Federation, and the Russian embassy found out about it purely by accident. The Russian Foreign Ministry that learnt by "word of mouth," that the Russians are about to be subjected to Libyan humanity, of course, paid due attention to the situation, but the Russians tormented in a Tripoli prison do not trust anyone except the president himself.

"Mr. President, we ask you to take personal involvement in the matters of our liberation," 59-year-old Russian Alexander Shadrov cried out to Vladimir Putin. According to him, Russians do not expect a fair trial. The efforts of Russian diplomats are not enough to save their countrymen. Shadrov also suggested that the trial is important for the Libyan authorities in light of the upcoming elections in June - so to speak, to show the people that the new leadership stands out and will protect them all from the terrible technicians who mended Gaddafi's tanks.

In Russia, people look at the future with open optimism causing some surprise. "Our embassy in Libya has made every effort to ensure that Russian citizens were released, and I hope that this situation is resolved favorably," Margelov said on Thursday, May 10.  

Interesting information in the meantime appeared in the Western media. They write that the Russians, Belarusians and Ukrainians will be exchanged en masse for the plane of Muammar Gaddafi. The plane is a AN-74 liner manufactured for the special order in Gostomel (Kyiv region).  

According to the UN special observer Vanessa Le Roa, "there can be no question about any dealings with the justice system in Tripoli," and the Russians, Belarusians and Ukrainians will be returned home with no convictions.  Given that, according to the UN, five thousand foreigners are locked in Libyan prisons, this hope sounds particularly touching.

Against this background, one of the last decrees of the former president, who as a farewell gesture signed an order to resume arms sales to Libya, looks very funny. About a year ago at this same time, the Russian leader signed the exactly the opposite decree, according to which the sale of weapons to the regime of Muammar Gaddafi was strictly prohibited. Russian retailers have lost about four billion dollars, and the victorious insurgents did not appreciate the effort and the Kremlin announced last September that they would not renew contracts with Moscow's arms because "they do not need that many weapons."  

Daria Sivashenkova

Pravda.Ru 

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