Tunisia Grants Freedom to 11 Russians Amidst Unsubstantiated Terrorism Claims

A court in Tunisia, a North African nation, has decided to release 11 Russian nationals who were detained in November on charges related to “terrorism,” as reported by Russian state media on Friday.

The Russian Embassy in Tunis indicated that the group was arrested while participating in a “sightseeing” tour of Roman ruins in the Haidra area, near the Algerian border, where tensions were heightened due to nearby “terrorist cells.”

Subsequently, the embassy stated that the rationale for their arrest stemmed from “suspicions of connection to terrorist activities,” noting that Tunisian officials had confiscated their gear, which was reportedly not intended for “declared tourist purposes.”

Although Tunisia is a favored destination for Russian travelers because of its visa-free entry and affordable prices, the town of Haidra does not typically feature on standard travel itineraries, according to earlier reports from the French news agency AFP.

No specifics about the case have been disclosed by either the Russian or Tunisian authorities.

The group was held by Tunisia under suspicions of “involvement in terrorist activities,” but formal charges were never filed.

As per the RBC news outlet, the 11 Russians were released from custody on Thursday after being cleared of the terrorism allegations.

Their lawyer informed the news agency RIA Novosti that the Russian citizens were taken to Tunis-Carthage International Airport to prepare for their return home.

They are anticipated to catch two flights to Moscow later on Friday, as reported by the Russian embassy to TASS.

Additional reporting was contributed by AFP.