Reuters: Russia put UN sanctions on Libya human-trafficking leaders on hold

BY Libyan Express May 21, 2018 - 20:53

Libyan National Army Commander Marshal Khalifa Belqasim Haftar visited Russia’s Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier

Russia has delayed a western proposal for a UN Security Council committee to blacklist six accused leaders of human trafficking and migrant smuggling networks in Libya, asking for more information on the value and efficiency of the move.

The Netherlands, backed by France, Germany, Britain and the United States, asked the 15-member council’s Libya sanctions committee to impose a global asset freeze and travel ban on six people. But Russia put a so-called “technical hold” on the request earlier this month. The committee operates by consensus.

“We hope that the designating committee members will share with others at least some of “extensive evidence” from “reliable sources” confirming the involvement of the six individuals in the illicit activities they are accused of,” the Russian U.N. mission said in a letter to the committee, seen by Reuters.

The Russian U.N. mission wanted to know “how the problem can be solved without dealing with criminals from countries of origin and countries of destination,” noting the designation proposal indicated that “networks stretch to many European countries and the United States.”

The proposal to impose targeted sanctions on the six people comes after a video, appearing to show African migrants sold as slaves, sparked global outrage late last year.

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley told a council meeting on Libya on Monday that “failing to move forward with the designations would be a travesty in the face of so much global outrage over these abuses.”

“The evidence showing the involvement of the six people is clear,” Haley said.

Under a sanctions regime set up in 2011, the Security Council is able to impose a global asset freeze and travel ban on “individuals and entities involved in or complicit in ordering, controlling, or otherwise directing, the commission of serious human rights abuses against persons in Libya.”

“It is time our words are turned into action,” deputy Netherlands U.N. Ambassador, Lise Gregoire Van Haaren, told the council on Monday.

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