Medvedev has denied the protection of personal power of Bashar al-Assad – RBC

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev

Photo: RIA Novosti

Russia’s Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said that Moscow is not a matter of principle, exactly who heads Syria. Medvedev negative answer to the question of whether the principle for Russia to power in Syria, Bashar al-Assad was.

«No, absolutely not. Who is the leader of Syria, the Syrian people should determine. He, incidentally, is a multinational, multi-confessional, complex. And it is a matter of choice of the people “- quoted by Interfax Medvedev’s words in an interview with the program” Vesti on Saturday “Sergei Brilev.

So the Russian prime minister responded to accusations that Syria Moscow is not in his own defense and in defense of President Bashar Assad.

«We are fighting not for specific leaders, we defend our national interests, on the one hand. The president said this: it is obvious that if these terrorists did not destroy it, they will come to Russia. And the second – has a circulation of legal authorities. That’s because we believe this, “- said Medvedev.

The Russian aviation group launched a military operation in Syria, September 30th. During the fighting Aerospace forces of Russia have caused more than 500 air strikes, in addition, 26 cruise missiles fired ships of the Caspian Flotilla.

Earlier Saturday, Deputy Ministry of Defense of Russia Anatoly Antonov said that the terrorist group “Islamic State” ( its activity is prohibited on the territory of the Russian Federation) increases expansion and intends to expand its activity in Europe, Russia, Central and Southeast Asia. According to him, at present the IG has a stable source of income and well-equipped army. At the same time pointed out that the way the terrorists in the CIS and in the north of China may lie across Afghanistan, which today insecurity remains one of the most urgent problems: the continuing deterioration of the situation in the northern provinces of the country, do not abate the attacks, multiplying the number of victims among the civilian population.

At the same time, the West and Sunni Middle East believe that Russia mostly strikes in parts of so-called moderate opposition to Assad instead to smash the terrorists. US President Barack Obama and the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan and called on Russia to concentrate on fighting terrorists IG, but not with the “moderate opposition groups».

The head of state and the prince, who is commander of the armed forces the UAE, also reiterated “reaffirmed the importance of creating the conditions necessary for the political transition of power in Syria».

On Friday, October 16, Obama said the United States could reach consensus Russia only in the issue of flights to Syria but on the principles and strategy of a peaceful settlement. “The president [of Russia Vladimir] Putin believes that if he continues to do what he has done for the past five years, that is to support the regime of [President Bashar] al-Assad, the problem will be solved”, – said Obama.

He said that the need to continue the fight against the terrorist group LIH and other extremist groups. The head of state added that the Syrian civil war will end only when found to be “political path” and will start the legitimate government in Syria.