Bashar al-Assad in Moscow. On Sunday, December 8, Russian news agencies claimed that the deposed Syrian president and his family were in the Russian capital. “Russia, on the basis of humanitarian considerations, granted them asylum,” according to a source within the Kremlin.
Information that Moscow, historic ally of Damascus, still refused to officially confirm this Monday. “I have nothing to tell you about the comings and goings of President Assad,” assured a spokesperson, also recognizing that Russia had been taken by surprise by the rapid fall of the Syrian regime. “The whole world was surprised by what happened. We are no exception”he stressed. The Kremlin’s embarrassment is therefore palpable.
Because, whether the fugitive dictator is a refugee in Russia or not, the Syrian events are indeed a setback for Vladimir Putin. Moscow, which has a naval base in Tartous and a military airfield in Hmeimim, has long been the main support of Bashar al-Assad. Vladimir Putin even became militarily involved in the Syrian conflict in 2015.
Moscow appeals to the UN
And even if the Russians have received guarantees from the rebels to maintain their military bases in the country, their influence seems to be stalling in the region. Moscow would therefore like to continue political dialogue with the new leaders. “Russia has always been in favor of a political solution to the Syrian crisis,” according to the same source within the Kremlin. “We start from the need to resume negotiations under the auspices of the UN.”
The UN, for its part, demanded on Monday that all perpetrators and those responsible for abuses under the “regime” of Bashar al-Assad be held accountable as part of the upcoming political transition process.
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