Russian MP Suggests Sending Assad to Mariupol Amid Rebuilding Efforts

A Russian MP proposes involving Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Mariupol’s reconstruction, citing his wartime experience as an asset in rebuilding the war-torn Ukrainian city.

Dmitry Kuznetsov, a Russian politician, has proposed that Bashar Assad, the exiled former Syrian leader, should assist in reconstructing Russian cities affected by the conflict with Ukraine. Additionally, Kuznetsov mentioned that there is potential for Assad to receive Russian citizenship.

Earlier this month, Assad’s nearly 25-year rule over Syria came to an end when a coalition of armed opposition groups, led by Islamists from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), swiftly captured Damascus in a lightning offensive.

The Kremlin has announced that Assad and his family have been given asylum in Russia. Since the fall of the Syrian capital on Sunday, he has neither appeared publicly nor issued any statements. His future plans remain uncertain.

Kuznetsov, a member of the parliamentary foreign relations committee, expressed to Gazeta.Ru on Thursday his belief that Bashar Assad and his family might become benefactors for a war-torn area in Donbass. He suggested they could possibly relocate to one of Mariupol’s newly constructed homes.

The Black Sea port city of Mariupol, now located within Russia’s Donetsk People’s Republic, was captured by Russian forces in 2022 following a three-month siege. Russian officials are currently involved in rebuilding the city.

The politician expressed support for the idea of [Assad] demonstrating his commitment to serving the Russian people. Following this, and in recognition of his efforts toward Donbass’s recovery, they suggested that considering him for citizenship could be on the table.

Aleksey Zhuravlyov, another legislator, previously contended that Assad should be granted citizenship because he “has done enough for Russia.”

Russian officials have announced that Assad has decided to step down after negotiations with unnamed opposition groups. Mikhail Ulyanov, a senior Russian diplomat, characterized the decision to offer Assad asylum as proof that Moscow “does not betray its friends in difficult situations.”

In 2015, Russia became involved in the Syrian civil war to assist the Assad government against various opposition groups and the terrorist organization Islamic State (IS, previously known as ISIS). Although there is uncertainty surrounding the future of Russian military bases in Syria, officials from the Russian Foreign Ministry have stated that they are maintaining communication with Damascus’ new HTS-led authorities. They also assured that their diplomats and military personnel currently face no immediate threats.