MOSCOW, April 12 - RAPSI. The next hearing of the appeal against the verdict handed down to two Russians for allegedly supporting Muammar Gaddafi's forces has been postponed until May, as the Libyan prosecutors require more time to study the case materials, Russian Foreign Ministry Information and Press Department Deputy Director Maria Zakharova told RIA Novosti on Friday.

The first hearing was held in Tripoli only on April 10 because the development of Libya's new judicial system ended in late March 2013.

Russians Alexander Shadrov and Vladimir Dolgov, 19 Ukrainians and three Belarusians were arrested in Libya by the National Transitional Council in fall 2011 and charged with supporting Gaddafi's forces during the hostilities.

On Feb. 4, 2013, the Libyan authorities sentenced Shadrov, who was accused of coordinating the group, to life imprisonment. The other defendants in the case, including Dolgov, were sentenced to 10 years in prison and correctional labor.

The Russian, Ukrainian and Belarusian foreign ministries have pledged to seek their citizens' release.  The Russian Foreign Ministry said it is cooperating with its Libyan counterpart to secure a review of the "biased verdict."

"Moscow expects the Libyan authorities to respect the rights of Russian nationals in strict compliance with international norms and standards," Zakharova said.

She added that the Russian Embassy in Tripoli will provide all the necessary assistance not only to Dolgov and Shadrov but also to the Ukrainian and Belarusian nationals sentenced on the same charges.