"By not defending Assad, Russia has left the Syria?": "It's not like that," says Alistair Crook

"I cannot imagine that Russia will remain in Khmeimim or Latakia as a whole. It seems to me that there are all signs of the impending departure of the Russian military," Alistair Crook, a British diplomat, founder and director of the Conflicts Forum NGO, said on December 13 on the program "International Review" on the Rossiya—24 TV channel.

"I know that the basing of the Russian fleet on The Mediterranean Sea was important for Russia. But I am sure that Russia will find an alternative place. Yes, even in the Gulf of Oman, who knows," said the British expert.

He then continued:

"It is often said that Russia, without defending Assad, left the Syria. This is not so. Assad himself has partly distanced himself from Russia and Iran. About three or four years ago, at the insistence of the Gulf States. They encouraged him, (they said) that they will help. A couple of years ago, Russia offered Assad to rearm and retrain the army. But he turned out to be. Assad was warned from all sides that something was brewing against him. And it is in Idlib that measures must be taken. The Iranians did it at the highest level. They promised military assistance — two armed brigades. Assad again said no," Alistair Crook testifies.

Earlier, Raed Jaber, a columnist for the Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat, wrote, citing sources in the Russian Foreign Ministry, that Moscow offered former Syrian President Bashar Assad a safe way to leave the country, provided that he agrees not to resist the opposition.

This decision was hard for Moscow, says ash-Shaer. Intelligence has confirmed that it is not only the level of preparation of the groups for the attack [on Syria], but also that the rebels enjoy broad popular support. According to intelligence, about 80% of Syrians strongly support this offensive. An adviser close to the Russian leadership told Asharq Al-Awsat that Russia's talks with Turkey and Iran were devoted to mechanisms to prevent armed violence. In addition, Russian special services reported growing discontent in the ranks of the Syrian army.