At a pivotal moment in Syria’s history, following President Ahmad al-Sharaa’s visit to Moscow on October 15, 2025, the Syrian Future Movement believes that any openness to the Russian Federation must be built on new foundations, not limited to political interests between governments, but rather stemming from the conviction of the Syrian people, who have paid a heavy price as a result of direct Russian intervention in the Syrian conflict.
We at the Syrian Future Movement believe that sustainable international relations cannot be imposed from above, but rather built from the grassroots, based on mutual respect, recognition of rights, and accountability for violations. Since its military intervention in Syria in 2015, Russia has played a decisive role in supporting the Bashar al-Assad regime and has directly contributed to prolonging the war through:
- The killing of at least 6,969 civilians, including more than 2,000 children, according to independent human rights reports.
- The implementation of 362 documented massacres and the targeting of 1,251 civilian facilities, including schools, hospitals, and public markets.
- The use of more than 320 types of weapons, some of which are internationally prohibited, as Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu acknowledged when he said, “We have tested more than 320 types of weapons in Syria, including your helicopters.”
We, in the Syrian Future Movement, affirm that any future relationship with Russia must proceed through the Syrian people, not through top-down agreements with the authorities. Therefore, we demand the following:
- An official acknowledgment by the Russian government of its responsibility for supporting the Assad regime and committing grave violations against civilians.
- A public apology to the Syrian people, including an acknowledgment of the use of Syrian territory as a military testing ground.
- Material and moral compensation for victims, through an independent international mechanism, including the rehabilitation of damaged areas.
- Reconsidering the military and economic agreements concluded by the former regime, ensuring Syria’s independent decision-making.
- Opening popular and cultural channels of communication between the Syrian and Russian peoples, free from the logic of political hegemony.
The Syrian Future Movement believes that a new Syria cannot be built on the ruins of denial, nor on deals that ignore the bloodshed. We extend a hand of dialogue to Russia, not from a position of weakness, but rather from a position of seeking justice and believing that true reconciliation begins with recognition, and that respect for peoples is the foundation of lasting relationships.
