"For oppressed, against executioners"

The first cosmonaut of Syria, flying to the Soviet space station "Mir", calls for the Russian people to the world

At the end of July 1987, the Syrian pilot Muhammad Ahmed Faris went into space as part of the Soviet Space Program and spent seven days at the Mir orbital station. After 25 years, in early August 2012, he fled from the regime of the Syrian President Bashar al -Assad, who brutally suppressed the opposition’s performance. Now Faris, the Hero of the Soviet Union, turns to the "great Russian people" not to fight against the people of Syria.

At the end of September 2015, the Astronauts Congress was held in Sweden, to which Pharis, who was living in Turkey, was invited to. However, he did not get to the Congress: the Swedish authorities refused to give him a visa, and the Spanish newspaper El Mundo, which published an interview with Pharis, failed to find out the reasons for the refusal. At this time, a crisis with refugees began in Europe, among which there are many people who fled from the Syrian Civil War.

Crew "Union TM-3"

The organizers of the congress that Radio Liberty contacted to take an interview from Faris, handed over the email address of his middle son. Kutayba Faris , born in 1981, perfectly remembers the trip with his father to the Soviet Union, life in the star town, where he was trained, Soviet cosmonauts (and calls the "first person in space" Alexei Leonov, in the 80s former deputy head of the training center, "Uncle Leonov"):

Uncle Leonov came to school to persuade me to read the poem in Russian

“I will never forget that.” When my father went to the USSR to prepare for space flight, he, my mother and older sister were with him. I was then seven years old. I perfectly remember the star town near Moscow. I lived there and studied for two and a half years. I well remember my childhood friends - Sasha, Alika, Zina. My teachers are love and faith. I still remember some revolutionary songs that praise a person and freedom. I remember how we sang songs about the Leninist revolution against oppression and despotism. I remember very well how Uncle Cosmonaut Leonov (the first one who went into outer space) came to my school to persuade me to read the poem in Russian at the school theater. I will never forget the good and friendly Russian people from whom I learned a lot, and the best I learned is to be free and always stand on the side of good and justice, at all costs. I dream to go once again to that wonderful city that is still alive in me.

Soviet postage brand in honor of the 1987 space flight

The younger brother of Kutayba Faris, born at the end of 1987, was named in honor of the Soviet space station - the world.

The name of Muhammad Ahmed Faris, who, after a space flight, became famous in his homeland (as it turns out later, this fame will bring him troubles), will again appear in the messages of international information agencies in 2012. Then, during the "Arab Spring", after the forces of President Bashar al -Assad began to brutally suppress mass protests, the first Syrian cosmonaut, the general of the Syrian army, runs from the country and supports the opposition free Syrian army.

This is how Kutayba Faris recalls those events:

I saw the suffering of the Syrians daily

- When a revolution occurred in Syria, my family lived in Damascus, since my father worked at the Air Force Management Center. Father urged all family members to take the side of the Syrian people, who rightly demanded freedom and dignity. My brother Mir entered the demonstration in Damascus, exposing his life in danger. He later told us about the brutal handling of peaceful demonstrators, about how security agents beat and arrested them.

I then worked in Aleppo as an engineer in the field of information technology in one of the departments of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor. Every day I saw the suffering of the Syrians from how difficult it is for them to find a job. I realized how difficult, unbearable and humiliating the life of the Syrian people was. The unemployment rate in Syria was higher than in other countries, there was no real growth, and laws were adopted for the benefit of minions of the regime, which was not only corrupt, but also spread corruption. The situation in Syria was extremely unfavorable in all areas except repression and arbitrariness.

Many were killed with animal cruelty

When the revolution began, we, intellectuals and educated people, realized that this was the only right path to salvation. I joined my friends - academic workers, students and activists, was engaged in political activities. We organized peaceful demonstrations on the territory of the university in Aleppo. I saw with my own eyes how the security forces and mercenaries stormed the university building, attacked students. Some of them were arrested, many were killed with brutal cruelty. I still can’t forget how they, having caught up with one student, threw him out of the window of the fourth floor. All this happened only for the reason that we wanted to freely express our political views.

My father has always been on the side of justice. He urged us to follow the only right path, despite the dangers. When the authorities learned that we support the revolution, they began to pursue the father, suddenly removed from work, and then my family moved to Aleppo.

After several attempts to confuse the special services, they fled

The special services also pursued me and other revolutionary activists, so I decided to flee to Saudi Arabia and work there in one telecommunication company. There, my political activity was limited to coordination and support over the Internet and social and information networks.

I was afraid for my family, was afraid daily, knowing that my father decided to leave Syria in order to announce the accession to the revolution of the Syrian people. Therefore, we contacted revolutionary activists and members of the Free Syrian Army to ensure a safe flight from Aleppo. And after several attempts to confuse the special services, the father and family managed to flee and get to the Turkish city of Kilis, not far from Aleppo.

Our relatives were persecuted

After that, my father announced that he was joining the revolution of the Syrian people and their fair and legal political requirements.

The regime confiscated my house and father’s house in Aleppo. Our relatives were persecuted, some of them were killed out of revenge for what the father did.

After my father left Syria, his political activity was limited only to the fact that he provided moral support to activists and gave advice to the Free Syrian Army. He always insisted that the cities should not be involved in the conflict so that they would not be subjected to airstrikes and to avoid victims among civilians. He advised to concentrate the fighting near military airfields so that the conflict ends as soon as possible and as few victims as possible, as well as with the aim of protecting unarmed civilians from air strikes.

I met with Uncle Leonov again

In September 2012, the World Congress of Cosmonauts was held in Saudi Arabia. Saudi cosmonaut Emir Sultan Ben Salman invited me to the conference with his father. I was very happy when I met with Uncle Leonov again there. We were silent for a long time. I remember how he wept. I met many other Russian astronauts with whom we were associated with pleasant memories.

I remember the astronaut Alexander Alexandrov. How my father was delighted when they met! We tried to explain to them what is actually happening in Syria, how to act, that we need to prevent a deterioration in the situation while we are not yet at the abyss. But, unfortunately, the situation has now become worse than everyone expected.

I would like to wish Russia to change its political position

Cosmonauts, including from Russia, expressed solidarity with the people of Syria, with its children.

In conclusion, I would like to wish Russia to change its political position, to reconsider my attitude to what is happening and the future so that it does not drown in the blood of the innocent. After all, I learned from you that the will of the people cannot be broken, that the people eventually win. I would like to visit the star town again, carrying a rose of love and friendship with me, not a thorns of hatred, ”says Kutayba Pharis.

Muhammad Ahmed Faris

Muhammad Ahmed Faris for almost 30 years, which have passed from his flight into space, unfortunately, has largely forgot the Russian language. But in a conversation, he pronounces several phrases in Russian, mainly during greeting and farewell. Like his son, he speaks of warm feelings for the Russian people, while sharply responding to the actions of the leadership of Russia, which began the military operation to support Assad forces. Faris emphasized that most of the blows of Russian aviation were struck by the anti -Assad opposition, and not the Islamic State group (a terrorist organization recognized in Russia and other countries. - RS) . It should be added that an interview with Pharis was taken to a series of terrorist attacks in France and before Russia recognized the death of the aircraft over the Sinai, after which, according to incoming messages, Russian aviation activated the IG attacks, coordinating its actions with the aviation of the Western Coalition.

It is interesting that, with all the benevolent attitude to the Soviet Union in one of the interviews, Faris calls one of the books that influenced him “I choose freedom” Viktor Kravchenko, the Soviet non -returning person who came up with the exposures of the Stalin regime. In the same interview, Faris says that he and his friends were formed under the influence of the political climate that existed in Syria until the coup on March 8, 1963 : “In those days we had political freedom in some ways. The political climate formed my personality and personality of my friends. But I wanted to be a fighter in the Syrian armed forces. To be far from politics .

Our interview with Muhammad Ahmed Faris began with memories of Syria of his childhood:

- I was born in the old quarter of the city of Aleppo in 1951. My father was engaged in staining of threads and fabrics. In the same quarter, I studied in primary and secondary schools. I graduated from secondary school in 1970. Then Syria was a wonderful country, people had clean hearts, the streets were clean. My memories are wonderful and beautiful, especially with regard to my relatives and friends in the quarter where I lived. How remarkable were those days full of purity!

I always wanted to travel far distances

- Why have you become a military pilot?

- I always dreamed of traveling at distant distances. I do not like closed spaces. In addition, our house was next to the runway of the flight school in Aleppo. And the main reason is that a fighter pilot is the strongest shoulder in protecting the homeland.

- Cosmos was your dream, did you seek this or was it just a decision of the authorities - to send you to the Soviet space program?

- As I said, I always wanted to travel at distant distances, so I read a lot about space and constantly thought about Gagarin. As for space flights, the decision on their implementation, in principle, belongs to the competence of the authorities. But the choice of an astronaut is a very complex process, and human capabilities play a major role in overcoming a difficult path.

I still remember the view of Syria from Cosmos

- You were in the USSR at a time when reforms began in the country, as a result of which five years later the Soviet Union disappeared. The people with whom you talked in the USSR - how did they relate to what was happening?

- Naturally, any change is first perceived by wary, but I think that they wanted changes.

- Flight into space - can this be called the most important point in your life? Did you shoot Syria out of space - with what feelings do you remember about this now?

- Yes, this was one of the most important events in my life, since it was a turning point for me. When I was shooting Syria, I was very happy and excited. Ask Alexander Alexandrov. Of course, I still remember the appearance of Syria from space.

- Do you store the star of the Hero of the Soviet Union?

- Yes, I still keep her. I took it with me to Turkey and showed it on some Turkish television channels.

- You named your son a world in honor of the space station - do you call it in the family circle?

- Yes, I named his world in honor of the space station. This is his name, and we call him that.

The dictatorship does not accept any known name along with the name of the dictator

- Tell us about the years after the flight. On the one hand, it was reported that you were almost under house arrest for many years, on the other hand, you continued military service and trained military pilots.

- After the flight into space, I became a famous person, people loved me, because I loved and respected them all, from small to great. I talked with them tirelessly. I also began to give lectures on space. Thus, I experienced the whole severity of the life of a famous person, and I was happy both from positive and negative moments. But during the dictatorship, which does not accept any famous name next to the name of the dictator Hafuz Assad, I was nine years without a position and without official work, despite the fact that I am a pilot and I have a military rank. And then, having felt shame, they provided me with the position of director of the Institute of Aviation, where they prepared military pilots. In this position, I spent eight years in Aleppo. Then I moved to Damascus, and they gave me the position of director of the department, I received the title of brigade general.

Fire under the ash

-What was your attitude to the Assad regime in the 2000s, then to the Arab Spring? Were the friction between the Sunnis and the alavites?

- I was outraged by how Bashar Assad inherited the position of my father, because we suffered very much from the dictatorship and repressions of President Hafuz Assad. We suffocated because of the omnipotence of the secret police, but we could not say anything openly. Naturally, when the revolution began in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya, I was optimistic. Our spring will remain, despite the fact that the fire of the despots and shaitanov burned its flowers. Unfortunately, Hafez Assad and his son Bashar were able to attract by all means and temptations of the Alavites to their side and mobilized them for their purposes. And this despite the fact that Alawites make up no more than 10% of the Syrian people. Naturally, there were problems, but they were like a fire under the ash, and the Arab Spring unexpectedly exposed them.

Then I decided to run

- When and why did you decide to escape from Damascus and join the opposition? Tell us about the circumstances of the flight - it is reported that this happened on the fourth attempt.

- At the beginning of 2012, after I witnessed crimes, murders and mass arrests of Assad, despite the fact that the demonstrations were one hundred percent peaceful. Bashar Assad admitted that the demonstrators did not release a single bullet for six months when 5,000 peaceful demonstrators were killed. I also saw with my own eyes how Assad’s planes massively killed children, women, civilians. Then I decided to run. The last attempt on August 4, 2012 was successful. I was forbidden to leave, they carefully watched me, and talk about the details for a long time.

- Did you participate in the planning of operations of a free Syrian army or simply expressed political support to it?

- First of all, I support her politically, and sometimes give advice.

Our revolution will defeat the regime and terrorism

- What were the relations between the diverse groups that were part of the united opposition - secular and Islamic?

- The relationship was different, depending on ideology, but they are united in an effort to free themselves from the Assad dictatorship, tyranny and oppression.

- Did you hope that this heterogeneous opposition coalition will be able to resist the Assad regime, on the one hand, and the Islamic State on the other?

- Yes, I have a great hope that our revolution will defeat the regime and terrorism, despite the malicious intervention against our revolution.

-Now Russia is trying to ensure that some opposition forces compromise with Assad. Is it possible? Your attitude to this?

- Russia is not trying to reach a compromise, despite the fact that the revolution does not have a compromise path: the revolution must win. I have already set out my position regarding the actions of Russia several times when I met with the Russian consul in Riyadh, as well as twice during meetings with the Russian consul in Istanbul. Russia - for Assad and against the Syrian people. Here I mean the Russian government, because the great and heroic Russian people against oppression, persecution and dictatorship.

90% of Russian airstrikes are applied against a free Syrian army

- The Russian aviation campaign, which began a month ago, - did she change the course of the war? There were reports that the opposition stopped the attack of Assad troops. Каковы ваши прогнозы относительно дальнейшего развития событий?

– Несмотря на то что со времени начала российской воздушной агрессии против сирийского народа пошел второй месяц, можно сказать следующее: наибольшее количество разрушений – в инфраструктуре; также были убиты тысячи невинных жителей, среди которых много детей, женщин и стариков. То, что налеты российской авиации направлены против ИГИЛ, – это лживые утверждения, поскольку 90% российских авиаударов наносятся против Свободной сирийской армии, которая сражается против тирании Асада. Эти удары не смогли остановить сирийскую оппозицию, которая продолжает сражаться против армии Асада, в конце концов правое дело сирийского народа одержит верх.

Существует различие между моим отношением к власти и к великому русскому народу

​ – Как относится сирийская оппозиция к России, меняется ли это отношение в последний месяц? Ее воспринимают как врага, с которым нужно воевать? Что вы чувствуете по отношению к стране, где вы долгое время работали и откуда вы полетели в космос?

– Отношение сирийской оппозиции к военной машине, которая убивает сирийский народ, чтобы оставить у власти диктатора, такое же отношение, как у российского народа к нацисту Гитлеру. Существует различие между моим отношением к власти, которая приказывает убивать, и к великому русскому народу, бóльшая часть которого, я полагаю, против убийства сирийского народа.

– Вы продолжаете общаться с космонавтами из России и других стран? Космос больше значит, чем политика?

– Я продолжаю общаться со многими космонавтами и особенно с российскими космонавтами, потому что мы были как братья на земле и в космосе.

– Вас не пустили на конгресс космонавтов в Швецию, отказали в визе – на фоне массового наплыва беженцев из Сирии в Европу. Вас это задело?

– Причин не давать мне визу не было, потому что я уже ездил в Европу несколько раз во время революции. Я надеялся встретиться на конгрессе с моими друзьями-космонавтами. К сожалению, этот вопрос находится в компетенции шведского правительства. (Уже после интервью Фарис посетил Европу. – РС).

Станьте на сторону угнетаемых

​ – Вы живете в Турции. Вы думаете, вам удастся вернуться на родину?

– Да, я живу в Турции. Но я уже несколько раз ездил в районы, освобожденные от гнета Асада. Я постоянно мечтаю о возвращении на родину, чтобы там работать вместе со своими соотечественниками. В заключение я бы хотел обратиться к россиянам и к российским средствам массовой информации. Великий русский народ! Несколько лет я жил среди вас, и мне выпала большая честь подняться в космос вместе с вами. Я знал, что вы всегда выступаете против угнетения и тирании. Сирийский народ уже долго сопротивляется угнетению и тирании Асада. Так встаньте же на сторону угнетаемых и против их палачей и нарушителей их прав везде в мире. И я призываю российские СМИ встать на сторону правды и искать правду на свету, а не в тени, – заявил в интервью Радио Свобода Мухаммед Ахмед Фарис.

Интервью подготовлено при участии Михаила Аландаренко и Сергея Данилочкина.