Expert Alexei Malashenko: Putin's statements about Assade were a maneuver in the political game

The Kremlin always put Assad on Bashar, and Putin’s statements about the mistakes of the Syrian leader and possible ways to get out of the crisis in Syria - this is a maneuver in a political game. Such an opinion in an interview with Polit.ru was expressed by the Doctor of Historical Sciences, a member of the Scientific Council of the Moscow Center of Carnegie, political analyst Alexei Malashenko.

“The whole bet of the Kremlin and Putin was originally made on Bashar [Assad], and he is the pillar of politics, without which Russia in Syria was simply impossible. This is quite obvious. Moreover, to “hand over” it, despite the fact that almost everyone in the Middle East is very poor in Bashar, would be a recognition of our weakness. And so Russia is respected, if only for that she saved her son for so long - since this is her son of his son.

Therefore, the situation here is very difficult. Moreover, I think that if Bashar leaves, then Russia will also be forced to leave from there too quickly. But why did this topic suddenly arose - so far, by the way, at the level of speculation that Russia has not yet discussed the question of giving it political asylum? Well, firstly, the decision has not yet been made, this is quite obvious. How it will be accepted is also incomprehensible. And whether it will be accepted at all ... and then: it will be accepted provided that there are elections in which Bashar does not win. And if these elections are, in any case, in the situation that is now there, then he can win. So I would say that this is a very dual approach, very cunning, which does not oblige Russia to anything.

By the way, the issue of moving Bashar to Russia is not discussed for the first time. The first time it was a few months after the start of the Syrian war. Then such an idea arose, because it seemed that he would not be able to resolve this situation, but he was still an ally of Russia-but he was always an ally of Russia. So this was not the first time. And what will happen next will depend on whether the consensus will be reached between Russia and partners.

But the fact that Putin uttered this shows that Russia, in principle, is ready if not to make concessions, then, in any case, to look more deeply. And such a hint that Bashar is not the only person in Syria who could support Russia (hint or remark, as you like to comment on), is completely natural. But I am repeated: I personally cannot imagine another politician who would so clearly agree to the Russian presence, support of Russia, and so on. In general, the game begins. What it will lead to is not yet clear, but Russia maneuver, ”Malashenko explained.

Recall that the president of Syria in a conflict situation in the country made mistakes, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in an interview with the German magazine Bild. The second part of this interview was published on January 12. The interview also addressed the issues of providing Assad with political asylum and resolving the situation in Syria through constitutional reforms.