Member of the Syrian Coalition Khalid Nasser said that Russia seeks to impose a political solution by military force after it failed to do so by diplomatic means as well as to wants to end Iran’s hegemony on the Assad regime so that it ensure its interests in Syria in any future settlement.
He also said that Russia seeks to prevent the collapse of the Assad regime which has suffered setbacks in front of rebels since early 2015, to protect Assad’s stronghold in the Syrian coast and to impede any possible US or Western intervention against Assad.
Nasser pointed out that since the start if of the Syrian Revolution, the Russian government has adopted the narrative of the Assad regime which seeks to portray the revolution as a conflict between the Syrian state and extremist groups, shutting its eyes to the peaceful anti-regime movement which lasted for months.
He added that Russia encouraged the Assad regime to pursue a brutal crackdown to crush the popular uprising out of its conviction that the scorched earth policy will succeed in Syrian just as it succeeded in Chechnya. “Russia did not hesitate to thwart all international condemnation for the regime’s appalling crimes and massacres using its veto power multiple times at the UN Security Council. It also helped the regime evade possible US military strikes following the Ghouta sarin attack by arranging for Assad’s surrendering of his chemical weapons cache.”
“Russia has also sought to delude the Syrian opposition, to divide their ranks and driving wedges between them and to distort its image through accusing it of being extremist and dependent on external forces. Meanwhile it has sought to promote some Assad-tolerated opposition blocs who share Assad his vision for a political solution.”
Nasser points out that Russia has recently stepped up its political activity, taking advantage of the American retreat toward the Syrian issue. “Russia has revealed its true position when Lavrov stated from Tehran that Assad would stay in power even after the transitional period. Then Russian President Putin revealed Russia’s strategy in Syria that includes the formation of a national unity government by the regime and the “reliable” opposition.”
Nasser pointed out that Russia’s latest increased military presence in Syria would collide with the plans of the US-led anti-ISIS coalition, let alone colliding with the will of the Syrian people who did not bow to the Iranian intervention. (Source: Syrian Coalition + Kulluna Shurakaa’)
