Putin does not want to return Bashar Assad to Syria

The new Syrian government formally requested Russia to extradite former President Bashar al-Assad in January of this year. However, the Kremlin rejected the request, Syrian President Ahmed al-Shar'i said in an interview with The New York Times.

Despite Russia's denials, Damascus does not intend to sever ties with Moscow. The Syrian leader says that most of the country's military's weapons are made in Russia and that there are cooperation agreements with the Kremlin on food and energy supplies.

"We cannot deny these strategic interests," said Ahmed al-Shar'.

Reuters first reported on the talks for Assad's extradition, which was later confirmed by sources in Al Arabiya and Al Hadath. Now, Damascus has officially announced the process.

The Syrian government is also demanding the return of large sums of money that Bashar al-Assad took to Russia. According to reports, the former leader took along with the money important documents, laptops and hard drives containing classified information.