Syria Requests surrendering Al-Assad, but Russia Rejects the Proposal
The discussions between Moscow and Damascus have revolved primarily around the future of Russia’s military presence in Syria, particularly the Hmeimim Air Base and the Tartus naval facility.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - Russia has reportedly rejected a request from the Syrian interim government to hand over Bashar al-Assad for prosecution, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal.
The request was allegedly made during the first official phone call between Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Negotiations Over Russian Military Bases in Syria
The discussions between Moscow and Damascus have revolved primarily around the future of Russia’s military presence in Syria, particularly the Hmeimim Air Base and the Tartus naval facility. In addition to military matters, economic cooperation was also on the agenda, including multi-billion-dollar projects related to Syria’s gas sector.
According to sources familiar with the negotiations, Russia is seeking long-term agreements with Syria regarding its military bases, while also expanding economic partnerships, particularly in energy and infrastructure.
Energy and Economic Cooperation Under Discussion
Beyond military concerns, the talks also covered major economic initiatives, including:
- Resuming operations at the Tartus port, which had been suspended for some time.
- Developing offshore gas reserves and expanding phosphate and hydrocarbon extraction near Palmyra (Tadmor).
- Constructing a new petrochemical plant in Homs.
Russia’s Position on War Crimes Allegations
The Wall Street Journal also reported that Moscow requested Syria to dismiss allegations regarding Russia’s role in the bombing of civilians throughout the war. While Moscow insists that its military operations in Syria were aimed at countering terrorism, Damascus has been under pressure from international bodies regarding civilian casualties linked to Russian airstrikes.
Syria’s Request for Assad’s Handover Rejected by Moscow
During recent discussions, the Syrian interim government reportedly requested Russia to hand over Bashar al-Assad to face prosecution. However, Moscow firmly rejected the request, instead focusing on strengthening ties with the new administration in Damascus.
