Syria's al-Julani to Russia: Extradite Bashar al-Assad for military bases
Reuters: Ahmed al-Sharaa (al-Julani), Syria's new leader, has requested Moscow to extradite former President Bashar al-Assad, who has taken refuge in Russia.
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Reuters quoted an "informed" Syrian source on Wednesday that the head of the new Syrian administration, Ahmed al-Sharaa (al-Julani) "asked Moscow to extradite former President Bashar al-Assad," who fled to Russia when he was ousted by rebel factions led by al-Sharaa, in December.
Assad, once Russia's most prominent ally in the region, fled to Moscow last year after being ousted by a lightning offensive by rebels that brought down the curtain on the Assads' five-decade rule.
Russia sent its first high-level delegation to Damascus on Tuesday as it seeks to retain its two military bases in Syria.
Damascus also wants Russia, which backed Assad during the country's civil war, to "rebuild trust through concrete measures, such as compensation, reconstruction and recovery," the state news agency SANA said.
When asked if he had asked Russia to bring Assad back and pay compensation, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to comment.
A high-level Russian delegation visiting Syria expressed support for its sovereignty and territorial integrity, the Foreign Ministry in Moscow said Wednesday.
"The Russian side affirmed its unwavering support for the unity, territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Syrian Arab Republic," the ministry said in a statement, noting that the visit comes at a "crucial moment" for Russian-Syrian relations. The Kremlin also announced that Russia is working to build a dialogue with the new administration in Syria.
The two sides also discussed "transitional justice" mechanisms aimed at ensuring accountability and "justice for the victims of the brutal war waged by the Assad regime," Syria's new ruling administration said Wednesday.
The Syrian administration stressed that "the restoration of relations must address the mistakes of the past, respect the will of the Syrian people and serve their interests."