Press Release: National Coalition’s Position on Russian Civilians in Syria

Media outlets reported statements made by Syrian opposition figures claiming that any Russian civilian in Syria is a target by the Syrian revolution because of Russia’s support to the Assad regime.

At the same time as the National Coalition of Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces condemns the policies and practices of the Russian government and its stand in support of the Assad regime politically and militarily, it unequivocally states that the Russian government alone bears full responsibility of their actions without any blame to Russian civilians.

The National Coalition stresses that such statements do not represent the opinions, positions, or policies of the Coalition and are completely rejected based on the principles of the Syrian revolution, its ethical standards, interests and policies.

The Syrian Revolution and the National Coalition, being the sole legitimate representative of the Syrian people condemns any attack on innocent civilians, regardless of their citizenship. When revolutionaries took up arms they did that in defense of their lives in the face of a brutal killing machine that has no mercy, and in the goal of attaining freedom and dignity.

This moral position by the Syrian revolution and the National Coalition treats all people equally regardless of national backgrounds including those from Russia, even with our rejection to its policies in support of the Assad regime during the past few months. These policies by Russia led to the Russian position being a major factor in deepening the suffering of the Syrian people instead of helping to solve problems in the region in a fair manner that lives up to the sacrifices of the Syrian people, their blood and legitimate demands in freedom and dignity and living in a democratic system that respects human rights and principles of international legitimacy. The position by the Russian government that further distanced itself from the people of the region must change in order to avoid exclusionary practices.

We further reject all statements that promote the targeting of civilian Russians and reaffirm that these statements contradict the goals of the Coalition and principles and morals of the revolution and Syrian people.