Russian Foreign Ministry delegation arrives in Syria amid political shift

A Russian delegation led by Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov has arrived in Damascus, marking the first official visit to Syria since President Bashar al-Assad’s resignation.

The delegation, which includes Russian President Vladimir Putin’s Special Envoy on Syria Alexander Lavrentiev, arrived in the Syrian capital amid significant political changes within the country, Caliber.Az reports citing Russian media.

Details regarding the agenda of the visit remain unclear, and no official statements have been made regarding the focus of the discussions. However, the visit is noteworthy as it is the first by Russian officials to Syria since President Assad stepped down and left the country in December 2024.

Assad’s resignation followed a large-scale offensive launched by opposition groups in late November 2024. The opposition captured key Syrian cities, including Aleppo, Deraa, Hama, and Homs, before advancing on Damascus in early December.

On December 8, Assad resigned as president, with Mohammed al-Bashir, the head of the opposition-formed Salvation Government (SSG) in Idlib, appointed as the interim prime minister for a transitional period.

This transition of power saw Ahmed al-Sharaa, leader of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group, become the de facto leader of Syria. HTS is banned in Russia and designated as a terrorist organization. The situation remains fluid, with the transitional government set to operate until March 1, 2025.

By Vafa Guliyeva