**Syria Demands Russia Hand Over Assad**
Syria’s new government has asked Russia to hand over former President Bashar al-Assad and his close aides, according to Reuters. This was reportedly requested during talks between Syrian officials and a Russian delegation on January 28.
The meeting was the first since Assad was ousted by rebels in December. After his fall from power, Assad fled to Moscow, where he is now living. A Russian delegation led by Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov met with Syria’s de facto leader Ahmad al-Sharaa to discuss the handover of Assad and his aides.
Russia has been a key supporter of Assad’s regime for years. In 2015, they deployed troops to Syria to help him crack down on opposition forces. However, this support came at a great cost, as hundreds of thousands of Syrians were imprisoned, tortured, or killed under Assad’s rule.
**Syria Also Demands Compensation**
During the talks, Syria also asked Russia for compensation and to correct “past mistakes”. Russia refused to concede these demands and instead agreed to continue discussing the issues. The only agreement reached was to continue the negotiations between Syrian and Russian officials.
This comes as Russia reassesses its military presence in Syria. There have been reports that they are withdrawing assets from the country, which has raised questions about the future of their naval base in Tartus and airbase in Khmeimim.
**Ukraine Also Involved**
Ukraine has also engaged with Syria’s new leadership. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha visited Damascus on December 30 to discuss Russia’s military presence. Ukraine and Syria reportedly share similar views on this issue, although specific details were not disclosed.
The situation remains unclear, but it is clear that there are significant tensions between Syria, Russia, and Ukraine over the role of Russian forces in Syria.
