DHAKA: Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he does not rule out granting political asylum to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, a long-time ally.

In an interview with a German paper, he said political reforms were needed in Syria, including a new constitution.

If the next poll was democratic, Assad would not ‘have to go anywhere, no matter if he is elected president or not’, Putin said, reports the BBC.

But should he lose, Putin said he might give him asylum.

‘We granted asylum to Snowden,’ he said referring to the American whistleblower Edward Snowden, who was granted asylum in Russia in 2013.

‘That was more difficult than [it would be] to shelter Assad.’

He said the aim in Syria would be to work towards constitutional reform, ‘It is a complicated process’.

‘Then, early presidential and parliamentary elections should be held, based on the new constitution. It is the Syrian people themselves who must decide who should run their country and how.’

‘This is the only way to achieve stability and security, to create conditions for economic growth and prosperity, so that people can live in their own homes, in their homeland, rather than flee to Europe.’

BDST: 22 HRS, JAN 12, 2016
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