Who will take power after Assad's resignation? How excessive profits and ostentatious luxury have undermined Syria's economy.

Chukin reminds us that a few years ago "even Russian publications wrote":

“The economy of Syria has been undermined by corruption at the highest levels of power and the ruling Assad clan's unwillingness to relinquish excessive profits and ostentatious luxury.”

“A significant portion of Syria's assets belongs to President Assad's relatives, along with numerous banks and investment companies. Revenues from the sale of natural resources are funneled abroad through complex corruption schemes and offshore companies.”

“All lucrative sectors of the economy are divided among family clans. The Assads have turned Syria into their family business, managed through a corrupt bureaucratic layer that is allowed to hold shares in return for loyalty.”

“The main assets of the country have been seized by the ruling clan and their relatives.”

“Assad's inability to firmly rein in his greedy relatives, his indecisiveness, and tolerance of embezzlement—this all breeds despair.”

“However, the whole world has long been aware of this; it has been reported for many years. The staggering corruption of the Assad family, the luxury enjoyed by high-ranking officials and generals, the arbitrariness of the security services, the state bureaucracy, and the judicial system. Can this continue indefinitely and without consequences? Here comes the end. Which usually arrives unexpectedly, when, seemingly, the situation is under control,” writes Birzhan Chukin.

He noted that he is “waiting for further developments.”

“And for the answer to the main question—who will come to power now? Could it be such a regime that Assad will appear as something like Mahatma Gandhi or an ascetic monk? (...) I’ll wait a couple of months and see who is there and what happens,” he remarks.

Chukin also cites words from Trump, which the elected U.S. president previously posted on his social media.

“There is chaos in Syria, but it is not our friend. The U.S. should not intervene. This is not our fight. Let everything take its course. Do not interfere!” wrote the American politician.

The full text of Birzhan Chukin's publication can be read here.

On the evening of December 8, the Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying that Bashar Assad has left the position of President of Syria and departed the country, giving instructions to transfer power peacefully.