Attempts of the West to persuade Russia to grant political asylum to Syrian President Bashar al-Asad are caused by his opponents' inability to topple him by military means, Interfax news agency reported on 4 July, quoting the president of the Middle East Institute, Yevgeniy Satanovskiy.
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"It is information war against Syria. When someone is too difficult to defeat, it is better to demonstrate (one's) opposition to bloodshed and readiness to let the enemy survive," Satanovskiy told Interfax.

He pointed out that the issue of political asylum would be relevant if al-Asad had asked the Russian leadership for it personally.

"If Bashar al-Asad decides that he needs asylum somewhere in general and in Russia in particular, he will then discuss it with the Russian leadership," Satanovskiy said.

"For that reason, the West is trying to convince Russia to suggest to the Syrian president that he must step down voluntarily," Satanovskiy added.

His comments came in response to publications in the Russian media that Western countries are persuading Russia to grant political asylum to al-Asad.

In a separate report on the same day, Interfax quoted Deputy Head of the Centre for Political Technologies Aleksey Makarkin as saying that the idea of granting political asylum to al-Asad outside Syria is unrealistic, since his departure would put at risk the Alawite religious community, traditionally dominated by the al-Asad family.

"I think Bashar al-Asad will reject this offer, if he gets it," Makarkin told Interfax.

"The al-Asad family traditionally dominates the Alawite community, which, in its turn, has great influence in the army and security structures. If al-Asad leaves, the Alawites would lose their influence. The concept of losing one's influence has a very hard meaning in the Middle East," Makarkin said, adding that the West would not be able to guarantee that the Alawites would not be subjected to repression in case of al-Asad's departure.

Makarkin also pointed out that al-Asad was being pushed from all sides.

"Al-Asad's supporters criticize him for being too compliant, while Moscow softly expresses its displeasure with the Syrian president's lack of flexibility," Makarkin noted.

At the same time, the West would welcome granting political asylum to al-Asad by Russia, Makarkin suggested.

"The West is interested in that. It would make it possible to create a government in Syria, which would be responsive to Western interests," Interfax quoted Makarkin as saying.

Keywords: Russia, Middle East, Syria - Russian News - Russia

Attempts of the West to persuade Russia to grant political asylum to Syrian President Bashar al-Asad are caused by his opponents' inability to topple him by military means, Interfax news agency reported on 4 July, quoting the president of the Middle East Institute, Yevgeniy Satanovskiy.

file photo

"It is information war against Syria. When someone is too difficult to defeat, it is better to demonstrate (one's) opposition to bloodshed and readiness to let the enemy survive," Satanovskiy told Interfax.

He pointed out that the issue of political asylum would be relevant if al-Asad had asked the Russian leadership for it personally.

"If Bashar al-Asad decides that he needs asylum somewhere in general and in Russia in particular, he will then discuss it with the Russian leadership," Satanovskiy said.

"For that reason, the West is trying to convince Russia to suggest to the Syrian president that he must step down voluntarily," Satanovskiy added.

His comments came in response to publications in the Russian media that Western countries are persuading Russia to grant political asylum to al-Asad.

In a separate report on the same day, Interfax quoted Deputy Head of the Centre for Political Technologies Aleksey Makarkin as saying that the idea of granting political asylum to al-Asad outside Syria is unrealistic, since his departure would put at risk the Alawite religious community, traditionally dominated by the al-Asad family.

"I think Bashar al-Asad will reject this offer, if he gets it," Makarkin told Interfax.

"The al-Asad family traditionally dominates the Alawite community, which, in its turn, has great influence in the army and security structures. If al-Asad leaves, the Alawites would lose their influence. The concept of losing one's influence has a very hard meaning in the Middle East," Makarkin said, adding that the West would not be able to guarantee that the Alawites would not be subjected to repression in case of al-Asad's departure.

Makarkin also pointed out that al-Asad was being pushed from all sides.

"Al-Asad's supporters criticize him for being too compliant, while Moscow softly expresses its displeasure with the Syrian president's lack of flexibility," Makarkin noted.

At the same time, the West would welcome granting political asylum to al-Asad by Russia, Makarkin suggested.

"The West is interested in that. It would make it possible to create a government in Syria, which would be responsive to Western interests," Interfax quoted Makarkin as saying.