Former US envoy to Moscow: Did Russia ‘deceive’ on Syria?

by Nikita Vladimirov - 04/05/17 6:36 PM ET

A former U.S. ambassador to Russia on Wednesday urged Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to ask Russian President Vladimir Putin if he misled the international community on Syria.

“Did Russia deceive international community in allowing ally Assad to keep some chemical weapons? Hope Tillerson asks Putin next week,” Michael McFaul tweeted.

Did Russia deceive international community in allowing ally Assad to keep some chemical weapons? Hope Tillerson asks Putin next week.

— Michael McFaul (@McFaul) April 5, 2017

{mosads}

The former ambassador noted that in 2013 Russia fully backed an Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) agreement that would fully eliminate Syria’s chemical weapons.

“The OPCW mission in Syria (for which they won a Nobel peace prize) was not the removal of SOME chemical weapons. What happened?” he asked.

The OPCW mission in Syria (for which they won a Nobel peace prize) was not the removal of SOME chemical weapons. What happened?

— Michael McFaul (@McFaul) April 5, 2017

Current U.S. officials blamed the deadly chemical attack in Syria on the country’s president Bashar al-Assad.

The U.S. has also criticized Russia and Iran for backing the Assad regime, and urged both nations to use their influence over Syria to prevent future chemical attacks.

Russia, however, has proposed that the attack could have been carried out by other forces.

Tillierson is set to meet with Kremlin officials, including Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, next week.

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