(Reuters) – Russia has transported Bashar al-Assad, who was ousted from the position of president of Syria when he was attacked by rebels, very safely to Russia, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told NBC News in an interview broadcast on Tuesday.
The Kremlin said on Monday that President Vladimir Putin had made a decision to grant asylum in Russia to Assad. His downfall has greatly hampered Iran and Russia, which intervened in Syria’s 13-year civil war in an attempt to strengthen his rule despite Western demands that he leave the kingdom.
“He is protected, and it shows that Russia is acting as necessary in this unusual situation,” Ryabkov told NBC, according to a transcript on NBC’s website. He added that he would not elaborate on “what happened and how it was resolved.”
Trusted and exciting news every day, right in your inbox
See for yourself — Yodel is your go-to source for daily news, entertainment and exciting news.
Asked if Russia would hand over Assad for trial, Ryabkov said: “Russia does not participate in the convention that established the International Criminal Court.”
Moscow has supported Syria since the early days of the Cold War, recognizing its independence in 1944 as Damascus sought to throw off French colonial rule. The West saw Syria as a Soviet satellite.
On Tuesday, Syria’s new interim leader announced that he would run the country as prime minister backed by former rebels who ousted Assad.
Separately, Ryabkov said Russia would be “absolutely ready to consider” another prisoner exchange, such as the August exchange involving Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and former US Marine Paul Whelan.
The new agreement will be “a healthy step forward, especially at the beginning of the next administration,” Ryabkov told NBC, adding that he would not want to “release anything in advance.”
(Reporting by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne; Editing by Leslie Adler and Stephen Coates)
Source link
