By Stephanie Nebehay

GENEVA, (Reuters) – Russian mercenaries killed Libyan detainees. This was among possible war crimes perpetrated by many sides to the conflict. U.N. Human Rights Investigators stated Monday that the confidential list had been compiled.

Libya is in chaos for over a decade. The last few years have seen war between rival forces based in the west and east, as well as foreign fighters, mercenaries, and regional powers. Russia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and Turkey supported the east forces. Turkey, however, backed their government.

The U.N. fact-finding team, headed by Mohamed Auajjar said that the investigations showed that multiple parties in the conflicts had violated (international human rights law) and could have committed war crimes.

According to the report, Wagner mercenaries were specifically charged with shooting prisoners September 2019. The report stated, “There is therefore reasonable ground to believe that Wagner personnel might have committed war crime of killing.”

The report also stated that Wagner personnel left behind a tablet with a map of 35 areas where landmines had been planted in close proximity to civilian buildings. These locations were located in abandoned eastern territories. According to the report, most of them were made in Russia and have killed or maimed civilians since their return home in June 2020.

Reuters couldn’t reach Wagner right away, and Wagner hasn’t responded to any questions regarding its past activities. Last year, when asked about Russian mercenary activities in Libya by Reuters, President Vladimir Putin stated that any Russians fighting there did not represent Russia.

Major fighting in Libya has been suspended since last year. The eastern forces’ advance on the capital in 2019 was stopped. In 2020, both sides agreed to a ceasefire. A December election is being planned.

On Sunday, Libya’s foreign Minister stated that some foreign fighters left Libya. The unity government is seeking international assistance to remove the remaining rebels.

TORT ON THE “DAILY BASIS”

The three-member panel’s report to the Human Rights Council, delayed by budget constraints, was based on hundreds of documents, satellite imagery, interviews with more than 150 people and investigations in Libya, Tunisia and Italy.

Many areas of Libya have been controlled by numerous armed groups since Muammar Gaddafi’s 2011 NATO-backed uprising. These groups are fighting for territory control and economic resources, including illegal migration of migrants fleeing war and instability.

Independent experts suggested that torture and other human rights violations committed on a daily basis in Libyan prisons may be crimes against humanity.

Panel member Chaloka beyani stated that “it is very clear that (European Union’s) pushback policies on sea have led to massive violations of human right…of migrants leading to detention at Libyan ports upon their return.”

U.N. investigators found the perpetrator of one the worst abuses: killings in Tarhouna by an armed group with victims buried at mass graves. They identified Mohammed al-Kani (a commander) who was killed during a July raid of eastern-based Libyan National Army.

Tracy Robinson, panel expert on Tarhouna atrocities, told reporters that the scale required far greater focus and forensic investigation.

Kani’s militia had been fighting alongside LNA since years. After being expelled from Tarhouna, they had sought refuge in LNA-held territories. Kani was never confirmed as dead by either the LNA and Benghazi police. Reuters couldn’t reach Kani’s representatives.