Statement by Yabloko’s Federal Political Committee, 04.07.2017

The Federal Political Committee of the Russian United Democratic Party Yabloko claims that Russia’s military campaign in Syria contradicts with the national interests of Russia and threaten the national security of our country.

Russia got stuck in somebody else’s civil war. Over 100 billion roubles have already been spent on this war, according to the official data alone 35 military men have died, not a single declared objective of Russia’s military operation in Syria has been achieved.

Russia failed to defeat the opposition to Bashar al-Assad’s regime, which is supported by the US-led international coalition, and failed to become a mediator between the regime and the opposition during the negotiations in Astana. There is no peace in Syria and it not likely to take place soon. The territory of the country is being divided between the Kurds, Turkey, the Sunni and the Shiite enclaves  instead of being preserved. In fact, from now on the preservation of Assad’s power is at issue only in that part of the country, which is controlled by his army. This is the end of Syria is a united state.

If we consider the participation in the Syrian war from the point of fighting the terrorist threat for Russia and its citizens, we will find out that the results are the contrary. Terrorists inside Russia and the CIS began to receive much more money, arms and volunteers. The number of Russia’s enemies has increased due to a wide range of groupings and countries, which are not part of the Islamic State. Revenge for the death of civilians, in particular during the storm of Aleppo, has become an additional motive for anti-Russia activity on behalf of the extremists.

At the same time, quite a real danger for Russia is increasing on behalf of Afghanistan and Central Asia. The Islamic State is actively working in Afghanistan, among other things, it transports its fighters from Syria and Iraq there.  The centre of the terrorist threat for Russia moves to Afghanistan (with spreading its influence in Central Asia). The act of terror in St. Petersburg metro represents the realisation of this threat. Russia has no adequate counter-terrorism policy in Central Asia. The energy and resources, which could have been spent on the protection of the south boarder of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, are spent on the war in Syria.

Russia suffers big reputational losses covering up Assad’s regime, which is being accused of using chemical weapons on some serious grounds. The developments in Syria aggravate the international isolation of our country. [Russia] failed to reach an agreement with the USA and the coalition which it heads concerning the distinction between a moderate opposition to Assad’s regime and terrorist groupings. Russia’s only “ally” is Iran, which in fact turns our country into a hostage of its policy and a means to realise its geopolitical and confessional ambitions.

The attempts to compete with the coalition headed by the USA in the Syrian territory and in Syria’s air space represent a special danger and threaten to develop into a direct armed conflict between Russia and the USA.

The policy of Russia’s current leadership is aimed at reproducing the geopolitical rivalry of the cold war period but at the same time it cannot provide Russia with a status of a global power.

The real consequences of the confrontation policy are the protracted competition that involves joining the arms race that will undermine Russia’s economy and the growth of a possibility of a direct armed conflict with the USA. Suspending an agreement to minimise the risk of in-flight incidents between U.S. and Russian aircraft operating over Syria and making a statement that [Russia] will treat US military planes as targets mean that any incident may now lead to an armed conflict with out-of-control consequences. Syria is becoming a new platform for confrontation of great powers instead of being a platform for cooperation to fight a common enemy.

Russia’s policy is once again practising brinkmanship in order to support the Syrian dictator, gain the overseas military bases and satisfy the great power ambitions that have nothing to do with real security and well-being of our people.

The Federal Political Committee of the Russian United Democratic Yabloko Party considers it necessary:

To immediately fulfil all the required measures to reduce tension between Russia and the USA concerning the situation in Syria, in particular, to restore the channels of communication between Russian and American militants serving in Syria as soon as possible, and to restore the system of prevention accidental military conflicts and incidents.

To make a principled political decision on the withdrawal of Russian troops from Syria with the shortest possible delay and inform the Syrian leadership about the decision so that they would not count on Russia’s endless support and would stop sabotaging the peace process. Keeping a limited number of Russian troops in Syria must be made conditional on the strict observation of the peaceful settlement conditions on behalf of Damask.

To begin a purposeful fortification of the southern borders of the country, strengthening the armies of Kazakhstan and other allied states of the region and their cooperation, to form a single effective strategy to resist the threat which comes from Afghanistan including military, diplomatic, economic steps.

To make real efforts to resists international terrorist organisations and armies in active cooperation with the US, other western countries and all the states which share the same aims in practice and do not use them to cover up some other geopolitical and ideological interests.

We realise that the turn that we propose is counter to the course of the current leadership and the intention to continue it, which is reflected in every speech by Vladimir Putin.

We consider it our duty to warn the Russian society, all the citizens, especially those who are responsible for making decisions on different levels, about the critical treats which are represented by the continuation of the Syrian adventure and the attempts to fulfil the imperial ambitions to the detriment of the economy of the country and cooperation with both the closest neighbours and the leading countries of the world. A wrong political course, the refusal to stick to common sense and carry out reforms led to the full collapse of Russia twice within a hundred years – in 1917 and 1991. Modern Russia must not make the same fatal mistake.

Our aim is to prevent a major war!

We propose another policy while it is not too late – to give up military adventures and concentrate on increasing the well-being of our people.

It is time to return home!

Grigory Yavlinsky,

Chair of the Federal Political Committee