Testimonies of the Russian sea captain Vladimir Tekochiv have unveiled the horrors suffered by the inmates inside Mitiga Prison in Libya’s capital, Tripoli, according to Al-Bayan newspaper, citing “CAG” network that tackles refugees affairs.
The Russian captain spent three years inside Mitiga Prison after he was intercepted on a vessel with three other sailors in international waters off the Libyan coast in June 2016.
He said that he was intercepted by gunmen on boats and then was forced at gunpoint to leave his vessel with the the gunmen taking all personal devices and money from the vessel.
The Russian captain and sailors found themselves later inside Mitiga Prison in Tripoli, which is run by armed groups affiliated with the Government of National Accord (GNA), witnessing all forms of torture inflicted on hundreds of inmates.
He said that the armed groups running the prison asked him for a million dollars in order to free him and allow him to return to Russia, adding that he understood that such things were a flourishing work practiced by the armed groups in control of the prison.
“We have been actually arrested by highwaymen and bandits.” The Russian captain said.
This testimony by the Russian captain confirms the UN Secretary General’s report of August 26, in which Antonio Guterres spoke of violations against immigrants and refugees stuck in unofficial detention centers.
The report says that the immigrants and refugees have been deprived of freedom and have been arbitrarily detained in unofficial centers, in addition to being tortured, including sexual abuse, and kidnapping for ransom, murders, extortion and forced labor.
