Remembering the Syrian resistance. Stand against Russian imperialism all over the world.

Opinion piece by Igor Skórzybót, CDN Secretary General

30th September marks 9 years of Russian intervention in Syria. Russian imperialist support for the war criminal Bashar al-Assad allowed the terrorist regime to reconquer most of Syria's territory, enabling it to continue terrorizing its own citizens protesting against the regime since 2011.

Assad and Russian forces are responsible for the deaths of 90% of over 160,000 civilians during the Syrian civil war, including over 25,000 children[1]. Additionally, approximately 55,000 civilians were murdered in regime torture centres, and over 2 million were injured. Assad's regime committed multiple war crimes including chemical attacks, mass violations of human rights, anti-Sunni ethnic cleansing, and complete destruction of cities such as Aleppo with massive air raids. Approximately 13 million people - which constituted more than half of the country's pre-war population - were displaced.

Russian support for the Syrian dictator is just one example of Russian imperialism and neocolonialism around the world: Russia makes systematic efforts to undermine democracy in 28 African countries[2], and committed war crimes in countries such as Mali and Central African Republic. This is supported by imperialist rhetoric: Russian Orthodox Church described the intervention in Syria as a holy war. The exploitation of Middle East and African countries is crucial for the Russian war machine in Ukraine, not only by supporting the economy of the terrorist state but also by recruiting mercenaries from previously destabilized regions.

Russia undermining democracy in the world[2]

It is not only Europe and Syria: Russia makes systematic efforts to undermine democracy in 28 African countries, including war crimes in Mali and Central African Republic.

We need to acknowledge the complete failure of the EU’s and USA’s foreign policy that allows the terrorist dictator and his Russian principals to commit further crimes and remain unpunished for over 13 years. It is also due to the West not taking seriously their responsibility to protect civilians the outgoing genocide in Syria, but also ones in Ukraine, Gaza or Central African Republic can happen. These atrocities were preventable and can now only be ended by the elected and appointed members of democratic bodies if they fulfil their obligations.

While the upcoming US elections already become a place for discussion about the failures of US Democrats' foreign policy during the Obama and Biden administrations, Europe needs to assess the mistakes and failings of its own foreign policy. Instead, we recently see shameful calls by Italian and Austrian foreign ministers, supported by 6 other EU countries[3], to normalise the relations with Assad regime.

This should be another reminder for the Greens to take foreign and security policy even more seriously, to commit to the non-violence principle by standing against the dictators that try to achieve their political aims using force. To fight against Russian imperialism by strengthening the sanctions, banning Russian fossil fuels or agricultural products, and by military support to Ukraine, without nonsense restrictions on striking back.

And on a symbolic way, as we rightly condemn the cooperation of centrists with the far-right, we should condemn any support for or will to cooperate with allegedly "leftist" Assad-apologists as USian Jill Stein[4], British Jeremy Corbyn[5] or German die Linke[6].

Instead, Greens should remember the right activities we did on the Syrian issue in the past, such as the very good guiding document which is the EGP resolution “On the situation in Syria” adopted in 2017, or the 2017 FYEG project “Smash Borders - Build Solidarity!“ that focused on migration and asylum policy, including causes and effects of the atrocities in Syria.

The minute of silence, FYEG seminar in Warsaw, 2018

Simple solidarity action was conducted during Social Commons seminar in Warsaw, commemorating victims of Rif Dimashq offensive in February-March 2018 that killed 4835 civilians.

We should be more vocal in solidarity with the Syrian opposition and Syrian refugees, as well as with all victims suffering the scourge of Russia and its allies all over the world. Politicians in Europe, especially those coming from green and progressive movements should spread the message on Syria, on the fight against Russian imperialism around the world. The international community should finally engage against the massive human rights violations within the Responsibility to Protect framework, should actively prosecute the war crimes and violations of human rights.

Igor Skórzybót

[1] Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Syrian Revolution 13 years on | Nearly 618,000 persons killed since the onset of the revolution in March 2011. 15.03.2024. https://www.syriahr.com/en/328044/

[2] Africa Center for Strategic Studies. Tracking Russian Interference to Derail Democracy in Africa. 21.06.2023 (updated: 8.05.2024). https://africacenter.org/spotlight/russia-interference-undermine-democracy-africa/

[3] Refik Hodžić. Euroviews. Normalising al-Assad’s regime is against Europe’s interests. Euronews. 10.09.2024. https://www.euronews.com/2024/09/10/normalising-al-assads-regime-is-against-europes-interests

[4] Ben White. On Syria, Jill Stein resorts to odd conspiracy theories. The New Arab. 23.10.2016. https://www.newarab.com/opinion/syria-jill-stein-resorts-odd-conspiracy-theories

[5] Sam Hamad. Comrade Corbyn supports Russian imperialism in Syria. The New Arab. 15.12.2017. https://www.newarab.com/opinion/comrade-corbyn-supports-russian-imperialism-syria

[6] Wladimir van Wilgenburg. Kurdish politician leaves German left-wing party over Russia policy. Kurdistan24. 14.05.2022. https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/28342-Kurdish-politician-leaves-German-left-wing-party-over-Russia-policy