Syria Demands Russian Compensation—They Should Demand War Crime Punishment

Syria demands Russian accountability. Discover the unfolding crisis as Damascus seeks compensation for past atrocities. Could this be the final blow to Moscow’s dwindling influence abroad?

In a striking development, Syria’s new government has demanded compensation from Russia for “past mistakes” during their first high-level talks since the ouster of Russian-backed dictator Bashar al-Assad in December. Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov and Alexander Lavrentyev, Vladolf Putler’s special envoy for Syria, traveled to Damascus on Jan. 28 to address these demands, which center on rebuilding trust, reconstruction, and acknowledgment of the devastation wrought by Moscow’s intervention. The discussions revealed the new leadership’s determination to hold Russia accountable and highlighted the uncertain future of Russian military installations such as the Tartus and Khmeimim bases. At the moment, it is not known whether the separation or compensation package will include the exchange of former dictator Bashar al-Assad, who has been in Moscow since losing power. Punishing the despot would certainly bring the new authorities many internal benefits, but how much would the Russians demand as compensation for the loss they would suffer by handing over al-Assad?...

Yet while these events signal a significant shift in regional dynamics, our blog remains committed to its longstanding principle: The notorious war criminal Vladolf Putler and his collaborators must be punished for their multitude of crimes—whether in Ukraine, Georgia, Syria, or Ichkeria (Chechnya)—and for their egregious corruption, blackmail, and acts of intimidation at home and abroad. We recognize that such justice appears distant for now, and we also understand the diplomatic stance of Syria’s new leader, Ahmad al-Sharaa, in pursuing compensation. He currently has the Russians in his grasp, so he wants to take advantage of the situation, whether financially or otherwise, before they flee Syria’s territory. Still, we refuse to relinquish hope that the day will come when all of these perpetrators are held to account.

AI-generated image showing what we think should happen to Putler and al-Assad.