In a landmark move, Syria’s newly-appointed leader, Ahmad Al Shara, has demanded that Russia hand over former president Bashar Al Assad and a staggering $2 billion in assets reportedly held by the exiled dictator’s family in Russian banks. The unprecedented request was made during a high-level meeting in Damascus with a Russian delegation, headed by Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov, sources revealed to The National.
This meeting, which marked the first face-to-face talks between the two sides since the collapse of the Assad regime, focused on several pressing issues, but the crux of the discussion was centred on the future of Al Assad and his wealth. Al Shara, who is leading the Hayat Tahrir Al Sham (HTS), the rebel group responsible for overthrowing the Assad regime, expressed a firm stance on the matter, demanding that the former president and senior regime officials who sought refuge in Russia be brought to justice.
“The primary demand was clear: surrender Al Assad and the senior officers who fled to Russia,” a member of Al Shara’s political staff said, adding that this was top of the agenda. “This is essential for building international legitimacy for the new Syrian government.”
Sources close to the discussions indicated that Al Shara also demanded the return of an estimated $2 billion in liquid assets believed to be held by the Assad family in Russian banks. While Bogdanov reportedly did not offer an immediate response, he noted that Russia “reserved the right to respond” to these demands, leaving the matter unresolved for the time being.
The meeting took place at the former presidential palace in Damascus, which is now under the control of HTS. The discussions came just weeks after Al Assad fled to Moscow on December 8, following the HTS-led advance that saw troops sweep through northern Syria and close in on the capital, Damascus. Although Russia’s military intervention had previously helped keep Al Assad in power, Moscow’s position in Syria has since become less tenable, with its influence over the country’s future diminishing rapidly.
The shift in power dynamics is evident, as Al Shara, backed by HTS, continues to build alliances with international actors to solidify his rule. The group is also focused on securing financial aid for Syria’s post-war recovery. The status of Russian military bases along Syria’s coast, which are vital to Russia’s strategic interests, was another key topic discussed during the meeting. While Al Shara made it clear that he would not take immediate action against Russian assets in Syria, there is little doubt that Moscow’s future role in the region will depend largely on its response to these demands.
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In a sharp rebuke, a Syrian source close to the talks claimed that Al Shara accused Russia of bearing responsibility for the destruction wrought upon the Syrian people since the beginning of the 2011 pro-democracy uprising. The Russian intervention, which saved Al Assad from defeat in 2015, has been widely criticised for exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the country. “If Russia is serious about its future relations with Syria, surrendering Al Assad would be a significant step in rebuilding trust,” the source said.
Meanwhile, HTS forces have not relented in their military campaign, aiming to consolidate control over former regime strongholds. In the east, Turkish-backed militias aligned with HTS have launched operations against a Kurdish-led militia that controls Syria’s north-east. This offensive follows the collapse of Assad’s government and underscores the shifting alliances in Syria’s complex civil war.
Despite the high tensions, the Russian delegation led by Bogdanov remained tight-lipped on the issue of past mistakes, with Russian state media reporting that both sides agreed to maintain dialogue regarding the Russian military bases. “We hope that our interests in Syria will remain protected,” Bogdanov was quoted as saying by the Russian news agency Tass.
As Syria enters a new phase under Al Shara’s leadership, the coming weeks and months will likely determine the future of Russian influence in the country and the fate of the assets once controlled by the Al Assad regime.
