Stepan Grigoryan: Putin realized that it is impossible to save Assad (video)
Russia's defence ministry has announced that first group of Russian fighter jets left Syria on Tuesday, following the surprise pullout order from President Vladimir Putin. The statement came just hours after Putin announced the withdrawal of most Russian force contingent from Syria. “Putin realized that it is impossible to save Assad. They [Russians] came to realize that Assad is encountering serious problems and is unable to control the situation, people are against him,” says Yerevan-based political analyst Stepan Grigoryan. Russia began its military operations in Syria on September 30, 2015. Though Russia says its troops have carried out their tasks, analysts do not think so, considering the economic sanctions against that country. According to different estimates, Russia has annually spent about $ 1-1.5 billion since its intervention in the Syrian conflict. “Russia does not possess unlimited resources. It has to address its economic problems, sanctions, petrol prices… Russia calculated and realized that it is spending huge sums in Syria and cannot continue like that,” Stepan Grigoryan said. Putin made it clear that Russia will maintain its airbase and a naval facility in Syria and keep some troops there. Syria's state news agency also quoted Assad as saying that the Russian military will draw down its air force contingent but won't leave the country altogether. Those Russian soldiers who stay in Syria will be engaged in monitoring the ceasefire regime, Putin said. The Syrian conflict has killed more than 250,000 people and displaced almost half the country's prewar population of 23 million since it began in March 2011.
