Ref: SC-2015-0603-EN. Translated from Russian. Original filed 3 June 2015, 07:14 MSK.
MOSCOW — SYRIAN PRESIDENT BASHAR AL-ASSAD ARRIVES IN MOSCOW; KREMLIN CONFIRMS HUMANITARIAN ASYLUM
MOSCOW — Syrian President Bashar al-Assad arrived at Vnukovo-2 government terminal in Moscow early Tuesday morning, the Kremlin confirmed in a brief statement, following his resignation from the Syrian presidency and departure from Damascus late Monday night.
The Kremlin statement described Mr. Assad’s arrival as “a humanitarian matter” and confirmed that the Soviet Union had granted asylum to Mr. Assad, members of his immediate family, and a number of senior Syrian government officials whose safety could not be guaranteed under current conditions in Syria.
“President Assad has made a personal decision, taken freely and without external compulsion, to step down from the presidency of the Syrian Arab Republic,” the statement read. “He has served his country for fifteen years under conditions of extraordinary difficulty. The Soviet Union, which has maintained a longstanding relationship of friendship and cooperation with the Syrian people, welcomes him and his family and wishes them safety and peace.”
The statement made no reference to the ongoing military situation in Syria or to the various armed factions now moving to consolidate control of Damascus and other major population centers.
Syrian state television, which had been broadcasting a continuous loop of patriotic programming since Sunday evening, went off air at approximately 02:30 Damascus time. Independent confirmation of conditions inside Damascus was not immediately available.
The Soviet naval facility at Tartus and the Hmeimim air base in Latakia governorate remain operational, a Defence Ministry spokesperson confirmed. Asked whether Soviet forces at those facilities had received new orders in light of the change of government, the spokesperson said only that “Soviet military personnel in Syria continue to operate in accordance with existing agreements and standing orders” and declined further comment.
The Soviet Union’s Foreign Ministry called on “all parties in Syria to exercise restraint, to protect civilian populations regardless of sectarian identity, and to work toward a political transition that reflects the will of all Syrian people.” It did not specify which parties it was addressing or what consequences, if any, would follow from failure to heed the call.
International reaction was still developing at time of filing.
— TASS Foreign Affairs Desk, Moscow
Related sources: BBC: ‘They Came Before Dawn’ — The Killing of Syria’s Alawites (July 2015)