SyriaRussia begins unofficial evacuation of its citizens from Syria

Published 23 January 2013

Russia has been a staunch ally of the Assad regime for decades, and there are thousands of Russians in Syria. They are becoming increasingly vulnerable as the rebels are gaining on the Assad regime. Fearing that the anti-regime militias will begin to take revenge on Russians because of Russia’s association with Assad, Moscow on Tuesday began a quiet evacuation of Russians from Syria. 

Evacuating Russian girl waves from a bus at the Lebanese border // Source: 21cn.com

Russian citizens and diplomat have begun to leave Syria, an indication that the besieged Assad regime may be nearing its end after two years of a brutal civil war.

Officially, the Russian foreign ministry said that the departure of dozens of Russians is not an evacuation.

The BBC reports that two planes carrying about eighty Russians, mainly women and children, left Beirut late on Tuesday. The Russians earlier travelled from Syria to Lebanon by bus.

The Russians had to get to Beirut because Damascus international airport is operating only sporadically as a result of rebels’ attacks.

The Foreign ministry did say, however, that it has made contingency plans for a possible future evacuation. Russia has been a staunch ally of the Assad regime for decades, and there are thousands of Russians in Syria.

The flights carrying the Russian citizens to Moscow were provided by Russia’s emergencies ministry, and Russian media said there would be doctors and psychologists aboard.

AFP news agency quotes a Russian diplomat to say that “This is not an evacuation. There is no pressure at all on Russians in Syria to leave the country, because there are many areas in Damascus which are completely safe and free from violence or any clashes.

We are simply helping people who have gone to the Russian consulate in Damascus requesting assistance.” AFP notes that the diplomat did say that the planes leaving on Tuesday and Wednesday would probably not be the last. “It will be an ongoing operation. Whenever enough people request assistance at the consulate in Damascus, we will organize for new planes.”

Aleksey Malashenko, a member of the research council at the Moscow Carnegie Centre, told the BBC that Russians in Syria are becoming increasingly vulnerable as the rebels are gaining on the Assad regime. He said Russia was trying to protect its citizens who might be the victim of revenge attacks if the anti-Assad opposition prevails in the war.

Assad’s regime is tottering, and those who intend to take his place are far from being angels,” he said.

Russia’s reputation among the opposition is bad since we officially support Damascus. So, Moscow is showing commendable forward-thinking by evacuating Russians.”