The symbol of #Assad regime’s corruption, Assad’s cousin, does something unheard of: he goes live on Facebook to discuss recent news that Assad, with pressure from Russia, seized cousins’ assets to get them to pay $3 billions. With no access, he pleads Assad to hear him out.
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In the video, Rami Makhlouf says:
• my telecom company, with ~11 million users, pays 12 billion Syrian pounds in tax + 50% of profits
• a committee by Assad claimed he’s involved in tax fraud & must pay more: 125-130 billion
• I’m willing to pay but not all of the sum at once
• my telecom company, with ~11 million users, pays 12 billion Syrian pounds in tax + 50% of profits
• a committee by Assad claimed he’s involved in tax fraud & must pay more: 125-130 billion
• I’m willing to pay but not all of the sum at once
Apart from the plea, the remarks are quite interesting.
He says when he claimed he abandoned his businesses & turned his wealth to humanitarian work after the 2011 uprising, it was to take a bullet for Assad & to not embarrass him. This is the result of that move, he says.
He says when he claimed he abandoned his businesses & turned his wealth to humanitarian work after the 2011 uprising, it was to take a bullet for Assad & to not embarrass him. This is the result of that move, he says.
Assad’s cousin also says this:
‘I’m made to look like the bad guy. That’s fine.’
He says if I’m forced to pay all of the amount, the company will collapse.
‘I’m made to look like the bad guy. That’s fine.’
He says if I’m forced to pay all of the amount, the company will collapse.
What’s behind this unprecedented move? Pure desperation or something else?
Not sure if related to recent reporting about Russia, and statements briefly published in state media in Moscow complaining about Assad.
Not sure if related to recent reporting about Russia, and statements briefly published in state media in Moscow complaining about Assad.
Rami Makhlouf starts defiant, saying his biz pays exactly what it owes.
Then he says he’ll pay but please don’t make me pay it all at once.
Then he tried benevolence, saying please spend the money I’ll pay on the poor Syrians because the committee might steal the money.
Then he says he’ll pay but please don’t make me pay it all at once.
Then he tried benevolence, saying please spend the money I’ll pay on the poor Syrians because the committee might steal the money.
Rami Makhlouf and some of the other symbols of the regime’s nepotism & violence never or rarely appear in public. For most Syrians, this is the first time we hear this guy speak in such context. Quite underwhelming, can’t even speak well, babbles sentences on God & innocence 1/2
.. it’s also amazing how he lacks basic self-awareness, trying to appeal to Syrians by speaking about “my suffering”.
You can also notice the words he’s most comfortable saying, ones that such ppl typically use — hidden threats & imposing orders. Except hollow in this case 2/2
You can also notice the words he’s most comfortable saying, ones that such ppl typically use — hidden threats & imposing orders. Except hollow in this case 2/2
[By the way, the Russia angle in this story (that Russia wanted Assad to provide money, so he did shakedown operations) isn’t substantiated: this seems to be a family’s affair. Internal.]
.@THE_47th, who first broke the story last year, says this whole thing was triggered by a Russia request. Check it out.
The more you watch this video from Syria business patriarch Rami Makhlouf, the more remarkable it seems.
Several times during the video, he uses a tone insulting to Assad. I don’t see how he can now live normally in Syria. Clearly still lives in denial, in his privileged bubble:
Several times during the video, he uses a tone insulting to Assad. I don’t see how he can now live normally in Syria. Clearly still lives in denial, in his privileged bubble:
