Syrian opposition calls on West to take responsibility for Syria as in Ukraine

A leading Syrian opposition group has accused the West of showing "double standards" in the way it reacted to the Russian aggression on Ukraine in comparison to Russian bombardment of Syria.

The head of the Syrian Negotiation Commission, Anas Al-Abdah reiterated that the Syrian opposition was in solidarity with the Ukrainian people after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, but said it was disheartening to see the western world was quick to respond to the crisis while Syrians had minimal support in their struggle against Russian aggression, which was in support Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad.

"We support the protection of Ukrainians from the weapons of Russian President Vladimir Putin, but we are against this crude and public duplicity of Western countries," Al-Abdah told Anadolu News Agency.

He said that violence against anyone was abysmal and that "the killing of a person should not be tolerated, regardless of the victim's nationality or belief".

"In Syria, there is a massacre of an entire people in front of the eyes of the world and with international complicity, while in Ukraine, the whole Western world is trying to protect it and its people," he added.

He explained that by not stopping Russia in Syria, the West "gave Russia direct and indirect support to carry out new adventures that may not stop at the borders of Ukraine".

"Failure to anticipate the danger before it becomes a reality on the ground, is the biggest failure that any country's leadership can fall into."

He also criticised the way in which the mainstream media handled the covering of Syrian refugees escaping their war-torn country, which was made worse by smearing opposition factions as terrorists.

He accused mainstream western media of "demonising the Syrian opposition as promoting terrorist organizations", which he said led to the criminalisation of refugees.

"Western countries are fully aware of the misinformation and attempt to stigmatize the Syrian opposition and the Syrian people with terrorism and they remain silent about it," he said.

He added: "This situation harmed us and our struggle against the fascist regime in Damascus and its supporters, our struggle for our freedom and the future of our country."

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the launch of a major offensive on Ukraine in the early hours of 24 February. Hours later, Russian ground forces crossed into Ukraine from several directions.

He launched the unprovoked invasion after recognising the two rebel republics in eastern Ukraine and signing friendship treaties with them.

From the start of the invasion, Syrian opposition factions expressed their solidarity with Ukraine.

Syria's National Coalition for Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces - the country's main opposition group - lambasted Russia's operation, which came after nearly seven years of waves of Russian bombing of rebel areas in Syria.