Syria’s new leadership has demanded reparations from Russia and the extradition of former president Bashar al-Assad in exchange for allowing Moscow to retain its military bases in the country.
The request was made by Syria’s de facto leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, during a January 28 meeting in Damascus with a Russian delegation led by Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov, according to news reports.
During the meeting, al-Sharaa reportedly told the Russian delegation that the new Syrian government would not continue its cooperation with Moscow without “concrete measures such as compensation, reconstruction, and recovery.”
In addition to the financial reparations and extradition of Assad, who is now in Moscow, Syria’s demands include Russian support for rebuilding the country, which has been devastated by years of war.
Russia was a staunch ally of Assad, providing military support during his years-long conflict with rebel and militia groups, including Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, which ultimately ousted Assad and now forms the core of the new Syrian government.
In return, Russia controls the Hmeimim airbase in Latakia and the Tartus naval base on Syria’s Mediterranean coast. These are Moscow’s only military outposts outside the former Soviet Union, and analysts suggest that losing them would significantly weaken Russia’s influence in both the Middle East and the Mediterranean.
Since Assad’s fall, reports have indicated that Russia has scaled back its presence at several smaller bases in Syria while maintaining its forces at two major locations: the Hmeimim base near Latakia and the strategic port of Tartus, where the Russian navy has a significant presence. However, recent reports suggest that Russian military equipment has been relocated to new bases in southeastern Libya, which are under the control of Libyan General Khalifa Haftar.
Russia has not publicly responded to Syria’s demands. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov declined to comment when asked about the extradition request.
The Russian Foreign Ministry has stated that the meeting involved a “frank discussion” on Syria-Russia relations and reaffirmed Moscow’s commitment to Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
