Fall of Assad is a blow to Russia’s prestige

Steve Rosenberg: Russia’s reputation has suffered with the overthrow of Assad.

A decade ago.

Steve Rosenberg.

the editor of BBC Russia.

Bashar al-Assad had been in power for almost ten years thanks to Russian firepower.

Until the past twenty-four hours’ extraordinary events.

Syria’s president was overthrown and reportedly flew to Moscow after Damascus fell.

Assad and his family have been granted asylum by Russia “on humanitarian grounds,” according to state TV and Russian news agencies, which cited a Kremlin source.

Moscow has no control over the Kremlin’s Syria project, which has collapsed in the most dramatic circumstances in a matter of days.

The Russian foreign ministry declared in a statement that Moscow was “concernedly following the dramatic events in Syria.”. “..”.

The demise of the Assad government is a setback for Russia’s reputation.

In 2015, one of Russia’s main goals had been to establish itself as a major world power by sending thousands of troops to support President Assad.

It was the first significant challenge to Western dominance and power that Vladimir Putin had made outside of the former Soviet space.

It had appeared to be a successful one. President Putin said the mission was successful when he visited Russia’s Hmeimim air base in Syria in 2017.

Even though there were frequent reports that Russian airstrikes were killing civilians, the Russian defense ministry was still confident enough to send international media to Syria to observe the Russian military action.

I recall an officer that told me that Russia was in Syria “for the long haul” during one of those trips.

However, this was not just a matter of prestige.

Russia was given 49-year leases on the naval base in Tartous and the air base in Hmeimim by the Syrian government in exchange for military support.

A significant foothold in the eastern Mediterranean had been established by Russia. The bases developed into crucial hubs for the movement of military contractors into and out of Africa.

What will happen to those Russian bases now is a crucial question for Moscow.

In addition, Russian officials were in communication with representatives of “the Syrian armed opposition” in the statement announcing Assad’s arrival in Moscow.

Opposition leaders have assured the security of Russian military installations and diplomatic missions on Syrian soil, according to the state TV host.

Russia’s foreign ministry says there is “no serious threat to them at the current time,” despite putting the bases in Syria “on a state of high alert.”. “,”.

The most steadfast ally of Russia in the Middle East was Bashar al-Assad. He was heavily backed by the Kremlin. It will be difficult for the Russian government to portray his overthrow as anything other than a blow to Moscow.

Nevertheless, they are making an effort and seeking scapegoats.

The main weekly news program on Russian state TV attacked the Syrian army on Sunday night, seemingly accusing it of failing to retaliate against the rebels.

As anchor Yevgeny Kiselev put it, “Everyone could see that the situation was becoming more and more dramatic for the Syrian authorities.”.

For instance, in Aleppo, positions were relinquished essentially without resistance. Despite the fact that [government troops] were far more numerous and better equipped than the attacking side, fortified areas were turned over one by one before being destroyed. “It is a mystery!”.

In Syria, Russia “had always hoped for reconciliation [between different sides],” the anchor asserted. “.

And finally, his last point.

“We are obviously not apathetic toward the events in Syria. However, the security of Russia itself—what is taking place in the area of Special Military Operation [Russia’s war in Ukraine]—is our top priority. “,”.

This sends a very clear message to the Russian people.

Russians are being told they have more pressing issues to worry about, even though Russia has spent nine years investing in maintaining Bashar al-Assad’s rule.