On Tuesday, September 30, the Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) released a report marking the tenth anniversary of Russia’s military intervention in Syria. The report called on Moscow to issue an official apology, compensate the victims, and hand over former president Bashar al-Assad.

The report stated that Russia provided comprehensive political, military, and economic support to Assad’s government, while obstructing international accountability by using its veto power 18 times at the UN Security Council—14 of them after its military intervention—and voting 21 times against condemning the regime at the UN Human Rights Council.

According to SNHR, Russia’s intervention enabled the Syrian government to retake control of “strategic” areas, including Aleppo, Eastern Ghouta, Daraa, and Idlib. Moscow also offered logistical and technical backing, while shielding the government’s violations—including the use of chemical weapons—through its media arms and diplomacy in the Geneva, Astana, and Sochi tracks, thereby entrenching Assad’s survival at the expense of Syrians’ aspirations.

Recommendations to Local and International Actors

The Syrian Network for Human Rights issued several recommendations, including:

• Accountability for Russian violations: The international community and national courts, in cooperation with Syrian rights groups, should continue investigations into violations committed by Russian forces, including by military and political leaders, to ensure accountability for crimes against humanity and war crimes.

• Transparency and preservation of evidence: Evidence and testimonies from former conflict zones must continue to be collected and preserved in accordance with established legal standards, including a proper chain of custody and source verification, for future submission to competent international or national courts.

• Victims’ rights and compensation: Establish fair and comprehensive compensation programs for civilian victims, combining material and moral reparations. These should also include the reconstruction of vital facilities and basic services to restore the fundamental rights of affected populations.

• Protection of civilians and infrastructure: Develop effective national and international mechanisms to prevent renewed attacks on civilians and essential infrastructure, while reinforcing rules and procedures that ensure the protection of Syrian civilians from any future external or internal military intervention.

• Support for political tracks and transitional justice: Advance transitional justice processes in Syria, including trials, truth-seeking mechanisms, reconciliation, reparations, and guarantees of non-repetition, to address past violations and strengthen the rule of law.

• Framing future relations with Russia through justice: The Network urged the Syrian government to condition any future relations or cooperation with Russia on accountability for past violations. This should include holding Moscow legally responsible toward affected civilians, compelling it to provide reparations, and ensuring its participation in rebuilding what was destroyed during its intervention in Syria, while guaranteeing that such violations are not repeated.