Tunisia frees 11 Russians accused of ‘terrorism’

A group of 11 Russians detained in Tunisia last November on allegations of “terrorism” has been released and will soon head home, Russian state media reported Friday.

The group was found near the North African country’s border with Algeria.

Russian media described them as sightseers, but Tunisian police allegedly confiscated equipment from them that did “not correspond to declared tourist purposes”, Russia’s embassy in Tunis previously said.

Neither Russia nor Tunisia has provided details about the case.

Tunisia held them on suspicion of “involvement in terrorist activities”, but they were not formally charged.

Russia’s TASS news agency reported they had been released and would leave the country on Friday, citing the Russian embassy.

“Tickets have been purchased for them, they will leave during the day on two flights,” the embassy said.

Russian state media said the group was visiting Roman monuments in the municipality of Haidra on the Algerian border.

Tunisia is a popular tourist destination for Russians, who faced travel restrictions after Moscow’s military offensive on Ukraine, in part because it is relatively cheaper than other destinations and offers visa-free access.

But Haidra is not on regular tourist routes, though it is home to some of the oldest Roman ruins in northern Africa.

AFP

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