On the complicated relation between Assad and Putin!

By: contribution for Syrializm
There is no secret, that the relationship between Russian President Vladimir Putin and the ousted Syrian president, Bashar al Assad, was like a rollercoaster, despite protocol appearances that can often be deceiving, as the reality of the situation may reflect feelings different from the political appearance that suggests a special relationship between two allies.
Whoever knows the mentality of Russian President Vladimir Putin, is fully aware of the fate that Bashar al Assad, and how he fled, and the collapse of his regime and army in this way, not to mention the difficulties that Moscow faced in taming the stubborn Syrian president who refused to listen to the advice given to him for years by the Kremlin about the need to modify his behavior in order to win and reform the situation in the country before the trustee is gone, all that contradict with Putin’s standard of giving respect.
The reality is that the Kremlin, during the past ten years, has faced the escape of former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, and then, few days ago, Bashar al Assad… Someone might say that Russia isn’t lucky enough in the quality of its allies.
Assad decided to step down from the presidency and leave the country, giving orders to hand over power peacefully, without Russia being part of these negotiations, according to reports.
Russia played a major role in supporting Assad alongside Iran, but on Sunday evening, it was announced that he had been granted political asylum in Moscow.
The next morning, the new Syrian flag appeared over the Syrian embassy in Moscow, after the old one was removed.
So why did Russia decide to abandon its ally after years of continuous support in the war? and could Moscow risk lose its influence in the Mediterranean?
Russia worked tirelessly to achieve reconciliation between the Syrian government and the opposition, but it expected political changes in the Syrian scene that didn’t happen.
Later on, Russia also worked hard and played a major role, to achieve rapprochement between Syria and Türkiye, especially on the light that Türkiye, represented by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and his desire to achieve reconciliation and rapprochement with Assad, in an initiative which was considered part of Russian mediation… it’s also failed due to Assad’s stubbornness refusal.
This, off course angered Putin, moreover, it angered Erdogan, which contributed to changing Russia’s position towards Assad, as there seems to be an agreement between Russia and Türkiye on the need for change in Syria.
Before that, a pick of Moscow’s patience with Assad has reached its peak, in a delicate situation facing Russia in Ukraine, and therefore Moscow needed a positive push to strengthen its position in general, especially in confrontations with Western opponents, who hope for a Russian failure in any field.
Russia was angered with the fact that Assad didn’t implement the political solution supported by UN Resolution 2254, which spoiled the Russian efforts.
Despite providing assistance in providing protection to Assad and his family in Russia, for reasons described by Moscow as “humanitarian”, reports have indicated that Assad, upon his arrival in Moscow with his family members, after obtaining “humanitarian” asylum in Russia, requested to meet the Russian president, a request that was rejected.
Russia is obligated by its moral nature not to abandon its allies, especially in the most difficult circumstances, to show itself as a better model than the West, which is not loyal to its allies.
However, at the same time, the card of Assad’s presence in Syria itself may be a double-edged sword in Moscow’s hands.
Therefore, we are waiting to see how Moscow will use this weapon in the coming period.