Syrian Ambassador Bashar Jaafari Requests Asylum in Russia

Bashar Jaafari, Syria’s ambassador to Moscow, has requested asylum in Russia according to TASS. This follows the recent recall of several ambassadors amid a reorganization after the fall of Bashar al-Assad. Jaafari was a vocal supporter of the Syrian regime during its civil war and has played a key role in its international representation.

The Syrian ambassador to Moscow, Bashar Jaafari, has reportedly requested asylum in Russia, as stated by the state news agency TASS. Jaafari, who has served as Syria’s ambassador in Moscow since 2022, was previously the country’s permanent representative to the United Nations for 15 years. Additional information about his asylum request was not provided by TASS, and attempts to contact Jaafari for comment were unsuccessful.

Russian President Vladimir Putin previously granted asylum to Bashar al-Assad, Syria’s former president, after he was overthrown during a rebel offensive late last year. Recently, Syria’s foreign ministry recalled Jaafari and its ambassador to Saudi Arabia in a diplomatic reorganization following Assad’s fall from power.

Jaafari has been a prominent figure, defending the Syrian regime throughout the 14-year civil war, even dismissing allegations of chemical weapons attacks. Historically, Moscow has supported Damascus since the Cold War and recognized Syria’s independence from French colonial rule in 1944. Furthermore, Russia maintains two significant military bases in Syria: the Hmeimim airbase and a naval facility in Tartous, both critical for Russia’s regional influence.

The request for asylum by Bashar Jaafari highlights the changing diplomatic landscape in Syria following the recent political upheaval. As Russia continues to support the Syrian government, the implications of Jaafari’s asylum and the dynamics of Russian-Syrian relations will be significant, especially with Russia’s military interests in the region.

Original Source: www.usnews.com