The Syrian Future Movement is closely following the new decisions announced by Finance Minister Mohammad Yasser Barnieh, which include suspending 36 employees from the Damascus and Rural Damascus Finance Directorates, the Real Estate Bank, and the Official Gazette, and referring them for investigation, as part of ongoing efforts to combat corruption and enhance integrity in government financial services.
These measures complement a broader campaign that began in May 2026, which at that time included suspending 94 employees, referring 25 recently resigned employees to the Illicit Gains Committee, barring 123 licensed brokers from entering ministry buildings, and revoking the licenses of 14 certified public accountants.
The Syrian Future Movement highly commends the Ministry of Finance’s continued anti-corruption campaigns, which are an extension of the previous measures taken in May 2026, including suspending 94 employees and referring them for investigation, barring 123 brokers from entering ministry buildings and directorates, and revoking the licenses of 14 certified public accountants.
The Syrian Future Movement highly values the Ministry of Finance’s continued efforts in combating corruption, which are a continuation of the measures taken in May 2026, which included suspending 94 employees and referring them for investigation, barring 123 brokers from entering ministry buildings and directorates, and revoking the licenses of 14 certified public accountants.
We recall here that administrative and financial corruption was one of the most dangerous diseases that plagued state institutions for decades, and was one of the main motives behind the Syrian revolution against the ousted regime. Reopening new corruption cases and referring them to the judiciary is a first step in the right direction.
The Syrian Future Movement notes that the new measures, announced on June 13, 2026, include:
- Suspending 22 employees from the Damascus and Rural Damascus Finance Directorates and referring them for investigation.
- Suspending 9 employees of the Real Estate Bank and referring them for investigation.
- Suspending 5 employees of the Official Gazette and referring them for investigation.
Thus, the number of employees covered by the new measures reaches 36, across various entities and institutions affiliated with the Ministry of Finance.
These measures come weeks after the Minister of Finance announced in May 2026 a series of actions as part of an anti-corruption campaign within the ministry’s institutions. These actions included barring 123 licensed accountants from entering ministry buildings and directorates, and revoking the licenses of 14 certified public accountants and referring them for investigation.
The Syrian Future Movement reiterates its unwavering support for combating corruption and promoting good governance, positions published on its official website, including:
- The statement on the Ministry of Finance’s anti-corruption campaign and the referral of cases to the judiciary (dated May 23, 2026), which commended the ministry’s escalation of its measures and stressed the need to guarantee the independence of the judiciary in prosecuting those involved, as well as to announce transparent criteria for selecting new qualified personnel.
- The statement, “Procedures of the Illicit Gains Committees Against Universities and Health Institutions” (dated June 10, 2026), welcomed the expansion of the anti-corruption campaign to include vital and sensitive sectors, considering it a significant step in the right direction. It called for the full and transparent disclosure of the names and charges against the accused, and for guarantees of fair and public trials.
The Syrian Future Movement expresses cautious optimism and offers a set of recommendations to ensure the sustainability and comprehensiveness of these measures and to achieve general deterrence.
While we appreciate these repeated measures, the Syrian Future Movement reiterates that the true success of the anti-corruption campaign is not measured by the number of those arrested, but rather by the state’s ability to dismantle complex corruption networks, recover stolen funds, and establish an oversight system that prevents the recurrence of violations.
Based on this responsibility, the Syrian Future Movement recommends the following:
- Ensuring the independence of the judiciary and the swift adjudication of cases referred to it, and the necessity of conducting public and fair trials for the accused, with transparent announcement of verdicts, to serve as a general deterrent to anyone tempted to tamper with public funds.
- Expanding the scope of investigations to include those involved in previous corruption cases who have escaped previous or current measures, with a focus on high-level corrupt individuals who have managed to evade punishment for decades.
- Accelerating the recovery of looted funds, with the assistance of illicit enrichment committees and international expertise, and compensating victims, in accordance with the recommendations of the Transitional Justice Commission.
- Strengthening financial and administrative oversight mechanisms within the Ministry of Finance and all government institutions to prevent the emergence of new corruption, and activating the role of the Financial Control and Inspection Authority, granting it genuine powers to exercise its oversight role.
The Syrian Future Movement reiterates its full support for every genuine effort to combat corruption, considering this battle an “existential battle” for the new Syria. We believe the government is called upon to continue on this path with steadfastness and transparency, expanding the scope of prosecutions to include all those involved, ensuring fair trials, and recovering the looted funds.
Success in this battle is the only way to build the state of law and institutions that the Syrian people deserve, and to rebuild trust between citizens and the state.
