Syrian President Bashar al-Assad meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin in Moscow, October 20, 2015. Putin asked Assad to step down as president shortly before the new year.
ALEXEI DRUZHININ/RIA NOVOSTI/KREMLIN/REUTERS
Financial Times: Vladimir Putin asked Bashar al-Assad to go
Just weeks before his death on January 3, Colonel-General Igor Sergun, director of Russia’s GRU military intelligence agency, was sent to Damascus on a delicate mission.
The general, who is believed to have cut his teeth as a Soviet operative in Syria, bore a message from Vladimir Putin for President Bashar al-Assad: the Kremlin, the Syrian dictator’s most powerful international protector, believed it was time for him to step aside.
Mr Assad angrily refused.
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WNU Editor: Russia is denying these reports .... Kremlin refutes media reports that Moscow offered Assad to resign (TASS).
More News On Reports That Russian President Putin Asked Syrian President Assad To Step Down
Putin Requested Assad Step Aside, But Syrian Leader Refused -- Moscow Times
Kremlin denies reports Putin envoy asked Syria's Assad to step down -- i24 News
Report: Putin Asked Bashar al-Assad to Resign -- Time
Putin Asked Assad to Step Down as Syrian President -- Newsweek
Kremlin Denies Reports of Putin Asking Syria's Assad to Step Down -- Sputnik
Putin denies sending official to Syria to ask Assad to step down -- The Guardian
Kremlin Denies Putin Asked Assad To Step Down -- RFE