Russia Distances Itself from Assad Following Syrian Regime Collapse

Moscow blames Assad's failure to address social issues for his ousting while deflecting responsibility for Syria's ongoing instability.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov criticized former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for his inability to meet the basic needs of the population during the prolonged civil war.
The Kremlin has officially distanced itself from Assad, who was flown to exile in Moscow after Damascus fell to Islamist rebels on December 8, 2024.
Lavrov attributed part of Syria's worsening conditions to U.S. sanctions and control of resource-rich regions in northeastern Syria, which he said exacerbated the crisis.
Despite Assad's ousting, Russian President Vladimir Putin emphasized that this development does not signify a defeat for Russia's military presence in Syria, established since 2015.
Russia had been a key ally of Assad, alongside Iran, but was caught off guard by the rapid advance of rebel forces leading to the regime's collapse.