Libya frees Russian oil man

2008-07-31 12:05

Moscow - A Russian oil executive detained in Libya since last year has been freed, his employers LUKOIL say on Thursday, hours before Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin was due to host the country's prime minister, Reuters reported on Thursday.

According to reports, the detention of LUKOIL's Alexander Tsygankov last November had been described by Russian officials and company managers as a "clear misunderstanding". But for eight months it had remained an irritant in otherwise rapidly growing bilateral ties.

Tsygankov, who was the head of the Russian oil major's Libyan office, was freed on Wednesday, Dmitry Dologov, LUKOIL's spokesperson, said.

"He will have some rest and then will start working again," he said. LUKOIL was Russia's second largest oil producer.

Putin was due to host his Libyan counterpart al-Baghdadi Ali Al-Mahmoudi for talks in Moscow, which were likely to focus on Russian hopes to secure energy contracts and a planned pipeline to take Libyan gas to Europe.

At the time of his arrest, Russian media quoted Moscow officials as saying Tsygankov was detained over an alleged leak of information linked to the tender for gas exploration rights, in which more than 30 foreign firms were participating.

However, he had never been formally charged.

- Reuters