Russia transported Assad in ‘most secured way’, Russian minister says
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Russia's President Vladimir Putin with Syria's former president Bashar al-Assad during their meeting in Moscow on July 24.
PHOTO: AFP
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MOSCOW – Russia transported Mr Bashar al-Assad, who was ousted as Syria’s president by a lightning rebel offensive, very securely to Russia, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told NBC News in an interview aired on Dec 10.
The Kremlin said on Dec 9 that President Vladimir Putin made the decision to grant asylum in Russia to Mr Assad. His fall is a big blow to Iran and Russia, which intervened in Syria’s 13-year civil war to try to shore up his rule despite Western demands that he leave power.
“He is secured, and it shows that Russia acts as required in such an extraordinary situation,” Mr Ryabkov told NBC, according to a transcript on its website.
Asked whether Russia would hand over Mr Assad for trial, he said: “Russia is not a party to the convention that established the International Criminal Court.”
Moscow has supported Syria since the early days of the Cold War, recognising its independence in 1944 as Damascus sought to throw off French colonial rule. The West saw Syria as a Soviet satellite.
On Dec 10, Syria’s new interim leader
Mr Ryabkov said Russia would “definitely be prepared to consider” another prisoner swop, similar to an August exchange that involved Wall Street Journal reporter journalist Evan Gershkovich and ex-US Marine Paul Whelan
A new deal would be “a healthy step forward, especially at the beginning of the next administration”. REUTERS
