07/11/2024
Congressman Cohen Questions Experts on Putin’s Complicity in War Crimes in Syrian Civil War
Backing Assad Regime, Russia helps perpetuate ongoing atrocities
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), the House Ranking Member of the Helsinki Commission, today offered an opening statement and questioned expert witnesses on the Russian role in perpetuating ongoing atrocities, including war crimes and crimes against humanity, in the Syrian civil war.
Russia supports the Bashar al-Assad regime in its ongoing 13-year civil war and is credibly accused of exacerbating the destabilization of the region and extending aggression against innocent civilian populations. Witness testimony established that Russia’s role in Syria was a rehearsal of the tactics and weapons now being employed in Ukraine. Putin also benefits from the crisis of Syrian refugees attempting to emigrate to Europe, bolstering right-wing political leaders’ anti-immigrant policies.