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QAMISHLI, syria/" class="auto-internal-link">syria (North Press) – syrian Transitional leader Ahmad al-Sharaa arrived on Wednesday in Moscow for his first official visit, during which he is expected to request the extradition of former ruler Bashar al-Assad from Russia, a administration official informed AFP. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, stated that al-Sharaa “will ask the Russian leader to hand over all individuals who committed war crimes and are in Russia, most notably Bashar al-Assad. ” as per Syria’s state news agency SANA, al-Sharaa’s visit aims to discuss bilateral relations, regional developments, and economic cooperation, including investment opportunities, the status of Russian armed forces bases in Syria, and the rearmament of the emerging Syrian army.
Russia, a key ally of Assad throughout the 14-year civil war, provided both diplomatic cover at the UN security Council and direct armed forces intervention in 2015, launching heavy airstrikes in backing of damascus. Despite past tensions, Syria’s emerging leadership has sought to maintain stable ties with Moscow.
However, uncertainty remains over the future of Russia’s naval base in Tartus and its air base at Khmeimim following Assad’s downfall. By Jwan Shekaki