KIEV, July 31 – Deputy Prime Minister Kostiantyn Hryschenko left for Libya Wednesday two weeks ahead of a judicial appeal hearing aimed at freeing 19 Ukrainian citizens serving 10-year sentences there.

"Today, on July 31, on the instructions of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, Kostiantyn Hryschenko left on a working visit to Tripoli," Hryschenko spokesman Oleksandr Dykusarov said on Wednesday.

He said that the Ukrainian deputy prime minister was to meet with the leadership of Libya's legislature, the General National Congress, and the country's government and foreign ministry.

"Hryschenko's visit is the first visit of such level to Libya since 2011 and is dictated by the need to establish and strengthen a constructive dialogue with the Libyan authorities," Dykusarov said.

According to Dykusarov, the deputy premier plans to discuss the topical issues of bilateral cooperation in trade, economic, humanitarian and other areas.

"One of the key topics of the talks with the Libyan authorities will be the matter of protecting the rights and interests of Ukrainians who are staying in the territory of that country," the deputy prime minister's spokesman said.

The Libyan insurgent brigade Al Qa'qaa captured Russian, Ukrainian and Belarusian citizens (25 people in total) on August 27, 2011. They were charged with having repaired military equipment used by the Muammar Gaddafi regime "to exterminate the Libyan people."

On June 4, 2012, the Tripoli Military Court sentenced 19 Ukrainians to 10 years of imprisonment. One Russian was sentenced to life imprisonment, and one more Russian national and three Belarusian citizens were sentenced to ten years in prison.

Ukraine immediately filed appeals against the sentences imposed on its citizens and insisted on hearing appeals against the conviction of each of its citizens separately.

The Libyan Supreme Military Court has already begun to consider the appeals, and the next hearing is scheduled for August 14.

On July 17, 2013, the Etel, a ship flying the flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis, whose crew consists of 19 Ukrainian citizens, was seized in the Libyan port of Benghazi by unknown gunmen. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry passed a note to Libya's charge d'affaires in Ukraine regarding the seizure of this ship, demanding that it be immediately released.

Those who seized the vessel stated that they were protecting the interests of 25 Libyan businessmen who were robbed by the owner of the Etel (the issue concerns nearly 600 cars worth about $9.5 million). The ship was allegedly to transport the cars from Jordan to Benghazi. But local businessmen claimed that the cars were unloaded in Ukraine, not at the point of destination.

A number of media later circulated reports that the Libyans had demanded the return of the cars or payment of their value as a condition for the release of the Ukrainian sailors.

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said on July 24 that the Etel vessel had nothing to do with the shipment of the cars. According to its information, another vessel – the Faina was to deliver the cars from Jordan to Libya. (om/ez)