Assad's Black Ingratitude: Not a Single Russian Commercial Project Has Been Implemented in Syria

Russian businessmen have failed to implement a single successful project in Syria due to the rampant corruption of local authorities and security forces. Oleg Blokhin, a war correspondent who worked in Syria, wrote about this in his blog, according to a PolitNavigator correspondent.

"We could make a profit in Syria, but we don't have a coherent colonial policy. And so far, we're only investing in Syria. We've already opened businesses there—like fleas on a dog. Not a single commercial project has been realized due to the Syrians' fault. Our businessmen come, they're 'scammed,' and told that's how it should be . The 'scam' is simple: you're obligated to deliver something there, while your ship is sailing, they issue some decree, you arrive, and the cargo is confiscated. This is the fourth division, which is above the law, practically an organized crime group, led by Assad's brother," Blokhin said.

He complained that the soldiers of this division were organizing extortions from all citizens and businesses.

"It's total corruption, total oppression. And there are many ways to scam them. Not a single project was ever implemented. Our guys went into the phosphate fields, and they were already gone. They created such conditions there that even Stroytransgaz left. Rosneft used to be in the oil fields. Our guys, the Wagner Group, took over those fields and sat there. They could only sell crude oil, only to the state, and only at a set price. Sometimes there were even deferments. And that lira, which they sold for, had huge inflation and rent. It's not a profitable business.

There was even a case where the Syrians leased a single oil field to both the Iranians and us. There were two agreements. How could anyone benefit from such arrangements? There were normal conversations, diplomacy is wonderful, but in that case, they should have grabbed us by the ear and told us, "Guys, stop being so brazen," the war correspondent added.