Kadyrov’s proposals on Syria called part of Moscow’s PR campaign

Options for cooperation with Syria were voiced by Ramzan Kadyrov as part of a PR campaign by the Russian authorities, who are trying to save face after the fall of the Assad regime, analysts note.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that on December 16, the leader of Chechnya outlined the idea of cooperation with the “new authorities of Syria” in order to “prevent a humanitarian catastrophe” in Syria. Ramzan Kadyrov proposed excluding the “Hayat Tahrir al-Sham”* grouping, which seized power in Syria, from the Russian list of terrorist organizations and sending Chechen law enforcers to the country to “patrol the streets.”

The Russia’s statement about its readiness to cooperate with the new Syrian government voiced by Ramzan Kadyrov is an element of a PR campaign that has little to do with real life, suggests political analyst and orientalist Rinat Mukhametov, an author of the “Nerusskiy” (Non-Russian) Telegram channel.

“The issue of Russian bases has more real grounds, but I don’t think that in the long term they have a chance to stay there, including with Turkey’s participation. Russia will be allowed to leave, saving face, so as not to complicate relations with the new government and Turkey itself,” political analyst Rinat Mukhametov suggested.

Relations with the new Syrian government will not affect the attitude of the Russian and Chechen authorities to refugees in the Caucasus or the situation of Palestinian refugees in Syria itself, the expert believes.

The Russia’s continued presence in Syria can be called a negative development of the situation, but such a possibility is not excluded, notes orientalist Kharun Sidorov. “The fall of the Assad regime is undoubtedly a huge defeat for Russia and President Putin personally,” political analyst Rinat Mukhametov emphasized.

According to Turkish journalist and political analyst Salman Niyazi, the Russian military presence “remains a symbol of Moscow’s bloody past” in the Syrian conflict. “The Russian bases there serve as a reminder of support for Bashar al-Assad, who destroyed his cities and bombed Aleppo, including [with the support] of the Russian Aerospace Forces,” political analyst Salman Niyazi noted.

The Russia’s attempts to use Chechen law enforcers to demonstrate cooperation with the new Syrian government are more likely a political manipulation, the Turkish political analyst believes.

*Recognized as a terrorist organization and banned in the Russian Federation.