The main purpose of the article is to review the most complete and holistic scientific works of Russian authors which are devoted to the study of Italian-Libyan relations. To carry out the research a broad historiographic base on the topic was involved, the author turned to both the “classic” works of Soviet scientists, and to the most modern scientific figures. One of the main tasks in the study of the topic is to identify the historiographic issues associated with the lack of modern Russian scientific literature on the referred theme. The article analyzes the specific features of the literature published from the end of the 20th to the beginning of the 21st century in Russia, highlighting the issue of interaction between two countries in different spheres of international relations. The methodological basis of the work is the issue-chronological and complex analysis of the used literature, the establishment of the cause-effect relationships and patterns in the Russian authors approaches to their research, as well as their interpretation for the current stage of development of relations between the two countries. During research it was revealed that most of the scientific works of our compatriots are devoted to a certain, rather narrow, range of issues: the Italian–Turkish war of 1911–1912, cooperation between Libya and Italy in the control of illegal migration from Africa to Europe, Italian military intervention in the civil war in Libya 2011. At the same time, not many Russian authors cover and analyze the Italian-Libyan cooperation in the politi- cal, cultural, social, and economic fields during the long-term period of Colonel Gaddafi’s rule in Libya. In this regard, the author of the article notes that there is a great amount of historical data: the diplomatic documents, resolutions, offi- cial letters of top public executives, treaties and agreements between the coun- tries, including documents of international organizations that are not studied at present sufficiently. The article identifies the most perspective areas for further research of Italian-Libyan relations, what emphasizes the importance and relevance of the chosen topic. The author comes to a conclusion that at the moment it seems quite difficult to find a well-founded, comprehensive scientific literature designed to determine the nature and options for the development of relations between Libya and Italy at the modern stage.