Can Russia remove al-Assad regime’s security services in Syria?
Vladimir Putin visits the Russian Armed Forces Command Center in Syria- 7 January 2020 (the official account of the Syrian Presidency)
Enab Baladi-Amal Rantisi
The surprise visit of the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, to Damascus, on 7 January 2020, shocked Syrians because security services were not informed of the visit’s details, or the security preparations that preceded it.
The Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, Valery Gerasimov, revealed the security plan drawn up for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Damascus back then, Russian broadcaster RT reported.
Gerasimov said, “it was decided to publicize the visit as if it were for Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu, not President Putin.”