Syrian demand for Assad's extradition strains Russia ties
The new Syrian authorities, led by Ahmed al-Shara, have demanded that Russia extradite Bashar al-Assad. The former leader of Syria sought asylum in the Kremlin after fleeing the country.
Reuters reported on the demand for Russia to extradite Bashar al-Assad, citing a Syrian source with information on the discussions taking place in Damascus with the Russian delegation.
Meanwhile, the Syrian news agency Sana reported that Damascus wants Russia, which supported Assad during the more than decade-long civil war, to pay reparations and contribute to the reconstruction of the devastated country. However, Moscow does not want to acknowledge its responsibility, the source told Reuters.
Discussions with the Russian delegation, headed by Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov, also concerned the restoration of relations between the two countries. The new Syrian authorities "emphasised that restoring relations must take into account the mistakes of the past, as well as the will of the Syrian people and their interests."
Kremlin spokesman refused to comment
The Russian foreign ministry reported that a "frank discussion" on various topics took place during the meeting. It added that the sides would continue contacts to seek "appropriate agreements." Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Wednesday refused to answer journalists’ questions regarding the extradition of Assad and the payment of reparations.
For years, Russia supported Assad in the fight against Syrian rebels, involving its air force and special forces. Nonetheless, towards the end of last year, a rapid offensive by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) overthrew Assad and forced him to flee Damascus. He was evacuated to Moscow.
The loss of power by Assad threatened Russian bases in Tartus and Khmeimim, which hold strategic importance for the Kremlin. Russia is open about its interest in maintaining these sites.
