Russia Withdraws Diplomatic Personnel from Damascus

Russia has removed part of its diplomatic personnel from its representations in Damascus, as well as employees of the diplomatic missions of Belarus, North Korea, and Abkhazia. This was reported by the operational crisis center of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“On December 15, with a special flight of the Russian Aerospace Forces, part of the personnel of the Russian foreign missions was transported from the Khmeimim airbase to Chkalovsky Airport. Employees of the diplomatic representations of Belarus, North Korea, and Abkhazia were also evacuated,” the statement said.

In connection with this, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not provide further details, but the statement indicated that the work of the Russian embassy in Damascus continues.

Immediately after the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that Moscow had established direct contact with the political committee of the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which led the assault on government forces. Among other things, it was noted that the diplomats from the Russian embassy met with representatives of the group to discuss matters concerning the diplomatic mission in Syria and the safety of Russian citizens.

Bloomberg, citing sources, reports that Russia is close to reaching an agreement with the new authorities in Syria regarding the maintenance of its two military bases in the country: the Khmeimim airbase in Latakia Province and the naval base in Tartus on the Mediterranean coast.