Syria
Syria's de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa (right) receiving Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov (left) in Damascus on January 28, 2025. Photo: Sharaa's office
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ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Syria’s de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa on Tuesday received a senior Russian delegation led by its deputy foreign minister in Damascus, emphasizing that the restoration of relations with Moscow “must address past mistakes.”
“The new administration … stressed that restoring relations must address past mistakes, respect the will of the Syrian people, and serve their interests,” said a statement from Sharaa’s office.
Russia was a staunch supporter of Bashar al-Assad and provided military support to the regime in its years-long conflict with rebel and militia groups, including Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) which ousted Assad and is the main force in the new Syrian government.
It also operates the Hmeimim airbase in Latakia and the Tartus naval base on Syria’s Mediterranean coast and has sought to secure their fate ever since top ally Assad’s ouster.
“The two sides engaged in discussions on transitional justice mechanisms aimed at ensuring accountability and justice for the victims of the brutal war waged by the Assad regime,” Sharaa’s office added.
The Russian delegation included Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov and Alexander Lavrentyev, President Vladimir Putin’s special envoy to Syria, the state-run TASS news agency said on Tuesday.
“The dialogue highlighted Russia’s role in rebuilding trust with the Syrian people through concrete measures such as reparations, reconstruction and recovery,” the statement said.
Assad and his family left for Moscow and were granted asylum by the Russian government as the HTS marched on Damascus last month.
“The new administration … stressed that restoring relations must address past mistakes, respect the will of the Syrian people, and serve their interests,” said a statement from Sharaa’s office.
Russia was a staunch supporter of Bashar al-Assad and provided military support to the regime in its years-long conflict with rebel and militia groups, including Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) which ousted Assad and is the main force in the new Syrian government.
It also operates the Hmeimim airbase in Latakia and the Tartus naval base on Syria’s Mediterranean coast and has sought to secure their fate ever since top ally Assad’s ouster.
“The two sides engaged in discussions on transitional justice mechanisms aimed at ensuring accountability and justice for the victims of the brutal war waged by the Assad regime,” Sharaa’s office added.
The Russian delegation included Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov and Alexander Lavrentyev, President Vladimir Putin’s special envoy to Syria, the state-run TASS news agency said on Tuesday.
“The dialogue highlighted Russia’s role in rebuilding trust with the Syrian people through concrete measures such as reparations, reconstruction and recovery,” the statement said.
Assad and his family left for Moscow and were granted asylum by the Russian government as the HTS marched on Damascus last month.
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