Latest news with #Russian-Syrian
Ya Libnan
01-04-2025
- Politics
- Ya Libnan
Syria officially requests Russia extradite Assad to stand trial
First images of deposed Syrian Dictator Bashar Al Assad in Moscow where he was granted asylum by Russian President Vladimir who is wanted by the International Criminal Court over war crimes Syria's new leadership has officially requested Russia hand over ousted President Bashar Al-Assad in order for him to stand trial in Syria. According to news outlet Al Arabiya , unnamed sources revealed on Saturday that Syria's new interim President Ahmed Al-Sharaa has formally asked his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to extradite Al-Assad – who headed his regime until its collapse on 8 December 2024 – to allow him to stand trial for his involvement in war crimes and crimes against humanity. During the rapid takeover of the country by the opposition fighters, the president fled the country along with his family, with Russia – Assad's long-time ally throughout the 13-year-long civil war – having granted them asylum. Earlier this month, a Russian source was cited by Reuters news agency as insisting that Moscow would not agree to extradite Al-Assad and that it had not been formally requested to do so. With Syrian authorities' official request now reportedly having been made, it is yet to be seen whether the Kremlin would reconsider its response. The development also comes after Russian President Putin and his government sent a message to Al-Sharaa stating their readiness for 'practical cooperation with the Syrian leadership on a whole range of issues on the bilateral agenda in order to strengthen traditionally friendly Russian-Syrian relations.' MEM
Asharq Al-Awsat
21-03-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Putin's Message to Syria's Al-Sharaa: A Step Toward Restoring Ties?
Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent a message to his Syrian counterpart, Ahmad al-Sharaa, the Kremlin announced on Thursday, underscoring its significance in both timing and content against the backdrop of recent developments in Syria's coastal regions and mounting challenges to the country's leadership. The message comes as Damascus navigates efforts to bolster internal stability and expand engagement with regional and international players. According to the Kremlin, Putin reaffirmed Russia's readiness to strengthen cooperation with Syrian authorities across all sectors. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the message expressed support for the Syrian leadership's efforts to 'swiftly stabilize the situation in the country while ensuring its sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity.' Peskov did not specify when Putin sent the message to al-Sharaa or whether it was delivered through an envoy. However, his remarks during a daily briefing suggested Putin had sent it on Wednesday. The letter carried a notable phrasing, reaffirming Moscow's commitment to 'developing practical cooperation with the Syrian leadership across the full spectrum of bilateral issues to further strengthen the traditionally friendly Russian-Syrian relations.' While the message underscored Putin's intent to recalibrate ties and establish serious, 'practical' cooperation with Damascus, its timing was equally significant. It followed Syria's success in containing the fallout from recent unrest in coastal regions—an event that had sparked allegations, albeit indirect, that Moscow had either supported or turned a blind eye to a military move by remnants of the ousted regime. These claims were fueled by reports that dozens of former Syrian officers had sought refuge in Russia after Bashar al-Assad's government was toppled. Russia has not officially responded to allegations that it played a role in recent unrest in Syria's coastal region. The Kremlin and the Foreign Ministry have limited their statements to expressing 'serious concern' over the turmoil, which later led to arrests and targeted killings of civilians. A Russian diplomatic source previously told Asharq Al-Awsat that Moscow had no involvement in the events and stressed that Russian authorities do not support any actions that could undermine stability in Syria. Against this backdrop, Putin's message appears 'deliberate in both tone and timing,' signaling Moscow's intent to reset ties and usher in a new phase of cooperation aligned with the interests of both sides.
LBCI
20-03-2025
- Politics
- LBCI
Putin offers cooperation to Syrian leader, backs efforts to stabilize country
Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent a message to Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa supporting efforts to stabilize the situation in the country and saying Russia is ready to engage in "practical cooperation," Russian state news agency TASS reported on Thursday. Putin confirmed "Russia's continuing readiness to develop practical cooperation with the Syrian leadership on the whole range of issues on the bilateral agenda to strengthen traditionally friendly Russian-Syrian relations," it quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying. A wave of sectarian killings has rocked Syria. The Kremlin said earlier this month it wanted to see a united and "friendly" Syria because instability there could affect the whole of the Middle East. Russia, which has two strategically important military bases in Syria, was one of the main supporters of former President Bashar al-Assad, who fled to Russia after he was toppled in December. Reuters
Russia Today
20-03-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Putin sends letter to new Syrian leadership
Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent a letter to his Syrian counterpart, Ahmed al-Sharaa, voicing his support for efforts to restore stability in the country, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday. The message comes after a recent surge of violence in the war-torn country, which Moscow has strongly condemned while calling for swift action to resolve the crisis. According to Peskov, in his message to the Syrian leader, Putin expressed 'his support for efforts to swiftly stabilize the situation in the country in the interest of preserving its sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity.' Putin also reaffirmed Russia's commitment to fostering 'practical' cooperation with Damascus on a full range of bilateral issues, 'with the goal of strengthening the traditionally friendly Russian-Syrian relations,' the presidential spokesman added. Syria's Mediterranean coast was gripped by the worst wave of violence in early March after clashes erupted between newly formed security forces and local militias, which Western media have labeled as loyalists of former Syrian President Bashar Assad. The Alawite Muslim minority, to which Assad belongs, has allegedly launched an uprising against the new government in Latakia and Tartus provinces. The violence has been concentrated in Alawite-populated areas. While commonly described as an Islamic sect, Alawites are regarded negatively by hardline Islamists, who believe them to be apostates subject to extermination. As the situation deteriorated, Russia and the US called for a closed UN Security Council meeting on March 10 to address reports of mass civilian killings. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, at least 1,500 civilians have been killed, most of them Alawites. Numerous extremely graphic videos circulating online claimed to show the new security forces torturing and executing civilians, including women and children, in broad daylight. Syria's transitional government later declared the end of its military operation in the affected areas. It also announced a plan to target supporters of the former leadership, blaming them for the ongoing crisis. The Syrian government collapsed in late 2024 after militant forces opposing then-President Assad launched a swift and unexpected offensive, seizing control of Damascus within days. The country's military disintegrated during the assault and has since been replaced by newly formed security forces. Despite granting Assad asylum after his ouster, Russia remains engaged with Syria's new leadership, maintaining operations at Khmeimim Airbase and a logistical support center in Tartus.
Khaleej Times
20-03-2025
- Politics
- Khaleej Times
Putin offers Syria's Sharaa support and cooperation
President Vladimir Putin sent a message to Syrian leader Ahmed Al Sharaa backing efforts to ensure Syria's territorial integrity and offering Russia's "practical cooperation" on a whole range of issues, the Kremlin said on Thursday. The fall in December of President Bashar Al Assad to rebels led by Sharaa after 13 years of civil war has forced Russia to scramble to secure its bases in the country. Moscow is also concerned by a wave of sectarian killings in Syria. Putin told Sharaa he supported "efforts to stabilise the situation in the country as soon as possible in the interests of ensuring its sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity", Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, according to Russian news agencies. Putin confirmed "Russia's continuing readiness to develop practical cooperation with the Syrian leadership on the whole range of issues on the bilateral agenda in order to strengthen traditionally friendly Russian-Syrian relations", Peskov said. The Kremlin, which was a key ally of the formerly ruling Assad family for over 50 years, said earlier this month that it wanted to see a united and "friendly" Syria because instability there could affect the whole of the Middle East. Reuters reported in December that Russia was pulling back forces from front lines in northern Syria and from posts in mountains dominated by Assad's Alawite community, but was not leaving its two main bases on the Mediterranean coast — the Hmeimim airbase in Latakia and the naval facility in Tartous.
