Russian President Vladimir Putin met Bashar al-Assad in the Kremlin as Moscow nudges the Syrian leader towards a meeting with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and Damascus seeks the Kremlin’s help in restraining Israel, Reuters reported.
At a meeting in the Kremlin, Assad said that he wanted to discuss global and regional events with Putin, including scenarios for the future.
“I am very interested in your opinion on how the situation in the region as a whole is developing,” Putin told Assad. “Unfortunately, there is a tendency towards escalation, we can see that. This also applies directly to Syria.”
The Kremlin said the meeting took place on Wednesday.
Russia has been trying to facilitate a meeting between Assad and Turkey’s Erdogan. Turkey severed ties with Syria in 2011 after the outbreak of the Syrian civil war, in which it supported rebels looking to oust Assad. The Syrian leader views the rebels as terrorists.
When asked if Putin discussed a possible meeting between Assad and Erdogan and whether or not Assad asked for help in ensuring security against Israel, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said there was a broad exchange of views on “all topics related to the situation in the region around Syria.”
“Many of the topics you mentioned were touched upon in one way or another,” Peskov said. “That’s all I can say.”
US state department reaffirms opposition to Turkey-Syria normalisation efforts
The United States has responded with scepticism to reports of a possible reconciliation between Turkey and Syria. “There have been similar reports in the past and nothing has come of them,” a State Department spokesperson told Kurdistan 24 via email. The spokesperson added: “We do not support normalisation, and we will not normalise relations with the Assad regime without real progress towards a political solution to the underlying conflict.”
The US urged that any engagement with the Syrian regime be used to improve the humanitarian, human rights and security situation for Syrians and to achieve the goals of UN Security Council Resolution 2254, which demands negotiations to reach a political solution to Syria’s internal conflict.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has recently indicated that he might extend an invitation to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad if the latter takes steps to mend relations with Turkey. Erdoğan stated, “If Assad takes a step towards improving relations with Turkey, we will reciprocate accordingly.”
Assad, in his response on 15 July, expressed a positive outlook on normalising relations with Turkey but stressed that the process must adhere to established rules.
The possibility of reviving the stalled normalisation process between Turkey and Syria has gained momentum following recent diplomatic engagements between Ankara, Moscow, and Damascus. The Syrian government insists that the new process should be based on clear foundations, while Ankara expects a positive response from Syria to its normalisation initiatives.
Turkish FM calls for ‘clearing PKK’ from Syria, Iraq
“We need to fight [against the PKK], take the oil and energy resources from its hands and give them back to the Syrian people,” Fidan said during an interview with Sky News Arabia on July 24.
Syria must be “cleared of terrorism, especially areas occupied by the PKK,” Fidan said, adding that Turkey also consistently contributes to political stability and safety in Iraq.
“PKK is spreading all over Iraq like a cancer cell. This is no longer our problem but has turned into a national security problem of Iraq,” he said.
“If there are terrorist groups out of control, like the PKK, you will not be able to bring investors there,” he added, amid signs of growing rapprochement in recent months.
In March, Baghdad listed the PKK as a “banned organization,” though Ankara continues to urge Iraq to take further action. It is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union.
“We are in agreement with the Iraqi government in this regard. The area must be cleared to be weapon-free, terrorist-free and conflict-free. Whether it’s ISIL or PKK, they must also be eliminated,” Fidan said.
Syria and Turkey: A path to reconciliation, or a defeat of the opposition?
Al-Jazeera published a long report on anti-Syrian riots in Turkey and protests in Syria, signifying a period of flux in relations between the two nations.
According to the report, anti-Syrian riots in Turkey and protests in Syria signify a period of flux in relations between the two nations. In early July, videos surfaced showing anti-Syrian street violence in Turkish cities, including the central province of Kayseri, where rioters burned Syrian-owned shops and demanded the expulsion of Syrians. Turkish authorities arrested 470 people involved in the violence.
The unrest is fueled by growing anti-Syrian sentiment in Turkey and fears among Syrians opposing President Bashar al-Assad that Turkey may normalize relations with the Syrian government. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, once a fervent supporter of the anti-Assad opposition, has hinted at possible rapprochement with Assad, even suggesting a meeting with him.
Erdogan’s shift is driven by dissatisfaction with the security situation in Syria and frustration with the U.S. support for the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), primarily composed of the YPG, which Turkey views as a terrorist group. Ankara is exploring a Russian-mediated re-engagement with Assad, hoping for cooperation against the YPG.
While Erdogan’s potential agreement with Syria could lead to investments in northern Syria and fulfill his campaign promise to repatriate a million Syrian refugees, many experts doubt the success of such talks due to the complex and contentious issues involved.
Meanwhile, the violence and rising anti-Syrian sentiment in Turkey have made life increasingly dangerous for Syrian refugees. The Turkish government’s support for hosting refugees is becoming unpopular amid economic struggles and opposition rhetoric. The worsening situation has led to thousands of alleged voluntary returns to Syria in 2024.
Syrians in Turkey, facing constant threats, are increasingly afraid for their safety. Many, like Noor Abu Hisham, a Syrian shop owner, are considering returning to Syria despite the risks. The situation remains dire, with Syrians in Turkey at risk of attacks at any moment.
The 2013 Tadamon Massacre Looms Over Germany’s Latest Syria Trial
Justiceinfo.com published a report on Germany’s latest universal jurisdiction trial that brought to light the 2013 Tadamon massacre through widely circulated videos, which are now being used as evidence.
While Ahmed H., the defendant, is not accused of involvement in the massacre, his trial could shed light on the mass executions and the pro-regime militia’s rule of terror in Damascus’s Tadamon neighborhood.
Background and Charges
The trial, which began in Hamburg in May 2024, involves Ahmed H., a Syrian driver and alleged member of a Shabiha militia, accused of crimes against humanity and war crimes. His charges include arbitrarily detaining individuals, abusing them, forcing them into labor, and stealing from local shops between 2012 and 2015.
The Tadamon Massacre
In April 2013, the Tadamon massacre saw the mass execution of civilians, a symbol of Assad’s regime’s arbitrary terror. Videos of the massacre, which emerged two years ago, show civilians being led to a pit, shot, and then burned. These videos, while not directly implicating Ahmed H., form a crucial backdrop for the trial.
The prosecution’s case against Ahmed H. includes testimonies from witnesses who suffered abuse, forced labor, and arbitrary detention by militias in Tadamon. None of the witnesses recognized Ahmed H., but their testimonies help establish the context of the crimes. Notably, Ahmed H. is seen in a video riding with a secret services officer responsible for the massacre, which initiated the investigation against him.
Procedural Issues
The trial has faced procedural difficulties. The defendant’s health, translation issues, and the anonymity of key witnesses have been contentious points. Ahmed H. has been diagnosed with cancer, raising questions about his fitness to stand trial. Additionally, translation problems between the Moroccan translator and the Syrian defendant, coupled with the court’s insistence on witness protection, have complicated proceedings.
Witness protection has been a significant issue, with some witnesses receiving death threats. The court has allowed several witnesses to remain anonymous to ensure their safety, balancing this against the defense’s right to a fair trial.
The trial, scheduled to continue until December, remains tense and fraught with challenges. While Ahmed H. faces serious charges, the broader implications of the Tadamon massacre and the Assad regime’s atrocities loom large over the proceedings, highlighting the complexities of achieving justice in the context of Syria’s ongoing conflict.
Syrian Elections: Decided Before Election Day
In a lengthy report, the Atlantic Council says that President Bashar al-Assad scheduled July 15 for the Syrian People’s Assembly elections in government-controlled areas. Our series of articles examines the Syrian electoral process, its role in legitimizing Baath Party rule, and the challenges of electoral reform within the UN-facilitated political process.
Syria lacks an independent electoral administration. Electoral authorities are embedded within the judicial and executive branches, functioning as extensions of the ruling party. The Supreme Judicial Elections Committee (SJEC), appointed by presidential decree, nominally oversees elections but lacks the staff and mandate to implement them. Election operations fall under the Ministry of Interior (MoI) and local election committees appointed by governors, ensuring control remains centralized under the president.
The current system allows significant discretion in implementing electoral procedures due to the absence of comprehensive regulations. Judicial commissions, reduced to issuing appointments and loose guidance, have little control, while the MoI manages key operational aspects like voter registration and logistics.
Reforming the system would require establishing an independent electoral management body with the authority to regulate and implement elections. UNSC Resolution 2254 suggests UN supervision of elections, but this would need substantial political consensus among UNSC members.
The election law, adopted in 2014, introduces several restrictions on candidacy, such as a ten-year nationality requirement and exclusion of individuals with politically motivated criminal convictions. Candidates face a vaguely regulated nomination process, giving judicial committees significant flexibility in approving nominations.
The Baath Party encourages massive numbers of candidacies to create an illusion of competition. However, the primary process, termed “consultation,” is more important than the actual election, as it determines the candidates on the National Unity (NU) List, who are effectively assured victory. The final say on the NU list candidates rests with the Baath Party’s Central Command, which adjusts results to maintain control.
The elections are essentially decided before election day, with the NU list candidates guaranteed seats in the assembly. The process is an internal Baath consolidation exercise, with no genuine political reform. The assembly, dominated by Baath loyalists, will continue to facilitate constitutional amendments, ensuring Assad’s continued rule beyond 2028.
The Syrian electoral system is deeply flawed, centralizing control under the president and the Baath Party. Meaningful electoral reform requires establishing an independent electoral management body and significant international consensus, which remains challenging. The current elections serve more as a façade of democracy, reinforcing the regime’s grip on power.
