Libya – Analysts: Saif al-Islam’s run for president depends on public support not Russian support

Tripoli-Libya 15/01/2019

Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, the son of the late Libyan President Muammar Gaddafi, has made a return to the political scene with Russia’s support, by planning to run for the presidential elections scheduled to be held in the spring of 2019. Analysts and jurists believe that the Russian and international support for Saif al-Islam’s candidacy is not as important as public support, while others see that his run for the presidential election will be encountered by the International Criminal Court since he has criminal records that he will not be able to get rid of. It is worth mentioning that Saif al-Islam Gaddafi has not made a public appearance since he was released from prison in Zintan, south of Tripoli in June 2017, where he has been imprisoned since his late father Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown in 2011.