Russian politician Maxim Shogali, who is close to President Vladimir Putin, said on Saturday that the son of former President Muammar Gaddafi, Saif al-Islam, “will not rule Libya,” blaming the United States for this.
“No, Saif al-Islam will not be president of Libya,” Shogali added, in statements reported by Bloomberg, blaming the United States for thwarting the ambitions of Gaddafi’s leadership, without providing evidence about that.
He continued, “He is an unacceptable figure for the United States, there is a political system against him,” noting that Saif al-Islam’s taking over power after 10 years would be “a unique event of its kind in the world.” It’s a big blow.”
Old regime
Elena Soponina, a Moscow-based Middle East expert, said that Saif Gaddafi “has little prospect of success; Because it represents for many Libyans a step towards the return of the old regime.”
“There are a lot of people in Moscow who see this situation, and they want in advance to blame the West for the possible failure of Saif al-Islam,” she added.
Last November, US State Department spokesman Sam Werberg said that the official role of Saif al-Islam Gaddafi “will pose a challenge to any Libyan government and Libya’s return to the international community,” as Libya is subject to sanctions from the United States and the United Nations.
Shogali, a vague figure working for the Kremlin ally Yevgeny Prigozhin, whom the United States holds responsible for interfering in the 2016 elections, spent 18 months in a Libyan prison; The government accuses him of “planning to interfere in the Libyan presidential elections in favor of Gaddafi,” according to the agency.
