Announcement from the MAE about the missing Romanian in Libya

UPDATE 21:30 – Press information regarding a Romanian citizen who is in the custody of the Libyan authorities.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs states that, at the request of the Minister of Foreign Affairs Bogdan Aurescu, specific measures were ordered as an emergency, in cooperation with the partner institutions, for the rapid resolution of the situation of the Romanian citizen in the custody of the Libyan authorities, as soon as his situation was known to the Romanian authorities.

The MAE mentions that, according to the data obtained through the Romanian Embassy in Libya (relocated to Tunisia) and the leadership of the EUBAM mission (EU Border Assistance Mission) in Libya, in whose service the Romanian citizen is as an employee of a private security company that provides protection of EUBAM mission personnel, is not abducted but is in the custody of the Libyan authorities.

The MAE states that the Romanian Embassy in Libya (relocated to Tunis) is in permanent contact with the Libyan authorities, as well as with the representatives of the EUBAM mission and the EU Delegation in Tripoli and is taking all the necessary steps to clarify the situation of the Romanian citizen and his release.

The MFA reminds that in accordance with the Travel Alert in force for Libya (https://www.mae.ro/travel-alerts/2897), Romanian citizens are strongly advised to avoid any kind of travel to Libya, and those who is still in Libyan territory to leave this country immediately.

UPDATE 20:30 – Announcement from the MAE about the missing Romanian in Libya

According to the official sources of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, this Romanian is in the custody of the Libyan authorities.

Following the on-site checks, the Romanian is not in danger.

Original news:

A Romanian is missing in Libya. He is a former military man who currently works for a security and guard company.

This Romanian left the Ministry of National Defense in 2012, where he worked at the Naval Group of Special Operations Forces. The man was a diver and also trained as a parachutist.

For about two years, he worked in Libya for a guard and security company.

He would have been kidnapped, it is not known exactly by whom. It could be the insurgents, who consider themselves an authority there. A crisis cell was formed at the level of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

According to some Antena 3 CNN sources, the Romanian along with other colleagues would have been detained and not kidnapped.

They would have been detained at an airport in Tripoli, in Libya.

“From the information I know about this security environment, most of the young soldiers who have experience in theaters of operations, whether it is the soldiers from the Ministry of Defense, from the Ministry of Interior, from the intelligence services, and who leave the system are sought by private security companies.

The payouts are extremely tempting, but the environment is very, very dangerous. Payments for those who are security guards at private companies and have military experience can reach almost 10,000 dollars for extremely dangerous and exposed areas from the point of view of terrorist attacks,” said journalist Radu Tudor.