Syria’s new leadership seeks justice, compensation, and respect from Russia
Syria's new government has demanded compensation from Russia in its initial talks with a Russian delegation, marking a shift in the bilateral relationship since the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
According to reports by Asharq Al Awsat, the Syrian government issued a statement following the discussions, emphasizing the need for Russia to restore trust with the Syrian people, per Caliber.Az.
The statement called for concrete measures, including compensation, reconstruction, and rehabilitation. "The dialogue stressed Russia's role in restoring trust with the Syrian people through concrete measures such as compensation, reconstruction and rehabilitation," the statement said.
The Syrian leadership also underscored that any restoration of relations with Russia must take into account past mistakes and respect the will of the Syrian people. "The restoration of relations should take into account past mistakes and respect the will of the Syrian people," the statement noted.
The talks, led by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov, touched on several key issues, including Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The new Syrian leadership emphasized that Russia reaffirmed its support for the “ongoing positive changes” in the country. "The Russian side reaffirmed its support for the ongoing positive changes in Syria," the Syrian statement mentioned.
Another key area of focus during the discussions was the establishment of transitional justice mechanisms to ensure accountability for the victims of the devastating war. "We discussed transitional justice mechanisms aimed at ensuring accountability and achieving justice for the victims of the brutal war unleashed by the Assad regime," the statement added.
Earlier, Bogdanov referred to his meeting with Syria's new leadership in Damascus as "constructive and positive." He confirmed that Russian military facilities in Syria remain intact and that both sides had agreed to continue their dialogue. "The meeting was constructive and positive. Russian facilities in Syria remain intact, and both sides have agreed to continue dialogue," Bogdanov stated.
This development comes amid significant political and military upheaval in Syria. In November 2024, Syrian opposition forces launched a wide-reaching offensive, capturing several major cities, including Aleppo, Homs, Hama, and even Damascus, which threw the future of President Bashar al-Assad’s regime into doubt.
Subsequent reports from the Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed that Assad had resigned, paving the way for a peaceful transfer of power. Assad and his family then travelled to Moscow, where they were granted asylum by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
By Tamilla Hasanova