Secretary-General of the Syrian Opposition Coalition (SOC), Haytham Rahmeh, stressed the need not to separate the crimes Russia is committing in Ukraine from those it is committing in Syria as in both cases it is using internationally prohibited weapons against innocent civilians with the help of militias of various nationalities.
Rahmeh lauded the international efforts to hold Russia accountable for its crimes after the European Union announced it will be cooperating with the International Criminal Court to establish a special tribunal for Russian war crimes in Ukraine.
“For many years, the Syrian people have suffered from bombing, killings, and terrorism. The same suffering is taking place in Ukraine as a result of similar crimes by the same criminals: Russia, the Assad regime, Iranian-backed multinational militias, and the Wagner militia,” Rahmeh added.
He added: “The similar human suffering made the Syrian people stand with the friendly Ukrainian people, and both peoples must gain independence from criminal forces.”
Rahmeh stressed that any punitive measures against Russia must also affect the Assad regime as it is a partner in these crimes and has been committing similar crimes against the Syrian people for the past eleven years. He also stressed that it is unacceptable that the Assad regime is still allowed to speak in international platforms to spread lies, falsehood and disinformation.
Rahmeh called for stripping the Assad regime of legitimacy in international forums because it does not represent the Syrian people and implements the orders of Russia and Iran and serve their interests and criminal projects.
(Source: SOC’s Media Department)
