The Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, Mikhail Bogdanov said Wednesday that five Russian sailors detained in Tripoli have been freed.

This announcement comes after the visit of a Russian delegation headed by Bogdanov to Tripoli on Tuesday.

According to Bogdanov, the delegation met with political stakeholders in Tripoli and had no contact with the Tobruk-based House of Representatives.

The Five Russian sailors, who were detained on board MERLE cargo vessel inside Libyan waters off Al-Zawiya shores, returned to Russia after two months of negotiations with Libyan authorities.

The crewmembers are 7, yet Bogdanov said nothing about the fate of the two remaining sailors.

Russian Foreign Ministry said on April 19 that it would take all the needed measures to protect the sailors and return them home.

The Russian vessel was intercepted on March 05 by the Libyan coast guards off Al-Zawiya shores and was then docked at Tripoli port and the 7 sailors were detained by the authorities.