The Russian president has said he will inquire about the fate of Austin Tice, who vanished in the country 12 years ago
Russian President Vladimir Putin has promised to ask the former and current leadership in Syria about the fate of a US journalist who went missing in the country 12 years ago.
During his annual Q&A session in Moscow on Thursday, Putin was asked by NBC’s Keir Simmons whether he would ask former Syrian President Bashar Assad for information about the fate of freelance journalist Austin Tice.
A US Marine Corps veteran, Tice disappeared in Syria in August 2012 while covering the country’s civil war. It was later reported that the Syrian authorities had detained him in southern Damascus on suspicion of links to the CIA. NBC reported earlier this week that Tice’s mother had written a letter to Putin asking for his help.
Since the overthrow of Assad earlier this month, the new authorities, led by the militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), have reportedly released thousands of prisoners, including foreigners. According to a Reuters report on Monday, a large-scale search for Tice is underway.
“The current situation in Syria compels us to ask for your help in finding Austin and safely reuniting our family,” Debra Tice wrote, as quoted by NBC.
”You have profound connections with the Syrian government, which can be a great benefit for our unrelenting efforts to find our Austin,” she added, addressing the Russian leader.
Putin has long supported Assad and personally granted him asylum following his ouster.
At the Q&A session on Thursday, Simmons showed a copy of the letter to Putin. ”Will you ask President Assad for information about [Austin Tice] missing in Syria,” asked the NBC journalist. Putin answered that he hasn’t seen Assad since the latter arrived in Moscow following his ouster, but plans to do so. “I'll be sure to talk to him,” the Russian leader said.
Putin pointed out that a long time has passed since Tice’s disappearance and that Syria was gripped by a civil war at the time. He expressed doubt on whether Assad “knew anything about a US journalist doing his job on the front line.” “However, I promise that I will put this question to him. We can also put this question to the people in charge in Syria today,” Putin stated.
Moscow previously said it was engaged in talks with the new powers in Damascus.
US President Joe Biden said earlier this month that Washington believed Tice was still alive, while acknowledging that the US had “no direct evidence” of his status.
In 2016, Russia helped secure the release of US freelance photographer Patrick Dawes, who had been missing for four years.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said at the time that Dawes’ release was made possible after then US President Barack Obama sent “a personal request for assistance” to Putin for help in searching for missing Americans.
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