Russia ordered for the evacuation of their embassy in Libya's capital on Thursday after it was attacked by vengeful gunmen, BBC News reported.
An armed mob of people began climbing over the compound's walls in Tripoli on Wednesday, breaking down the metal gate and shooting into the air. One of the attackers was killed by the gunfire and another four were injured from it, according to Libyan officials.
BBC said two Libyans were killed in the assault on Wednesday. No deaths of embassy staffers or Russians were reported but one car and parts of property was damaged.
Foreign ministry officials in Moscow said the staff members fled from the compound to neighboring Tunisia, where they planned to fly back to Russia from. They also said Russian diplomats in Tunisia would maintain their relationship with Libya.
"Relatives and friends of the murdered Libyan decided to avenge his death with an attack on the Russian diplomatic mission," a statement from the ministry said, referring to the death of a Libyan air force officer allegedly killed by a Russian citizen.
The statement also said the officer's mother was wounded in the incident and the Russian woman responsible was arrested.
The decision to order the evacuation was made after Libyan Foreign Minister Mohammed Abdelaziz visited the building and contacted Russian authorities. Abdelaziz told the Russian ambassador that Libya was "not in a state to guarantee the security of the Russian embassy and recommended his employees leave the diplomatic mission".
One official from Libya said the attackers took down the Russian flag hanging at the embassy but were not able to enter the building.
Moscow-based analyst Georgy Mirsky claimed the attack on the embassy should not be viewed through the same scope as other embassy attacks, such as the assault on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi in 2012.
"When Gaddafi was in charge, ties (between Libya and Russia) were good. He was buying our weapons and there was talk of a railroad being built," Mirsky said.
"This kind of thing happens all the time, there is no reason to exaggerate it."
