Backing Syria: Russian support since uprising started

Syrian opposition activists will make Russia the target of their weekly mass protests on Friday in the aftermath of Moscow’s decision to veto a UN resolution condemning the Assad regime.

Russia, which is a major weapons supplier to Damascus and has a naval base in Syria, has been a consistent defender of President Bashar al-Assad since a revolt against his rule eruped nearly a year ago.

— 2011 —

– April 27: Russia and China block a declaration submitted by Western countries at the UN condemning the repression.

– May 13: Moscow warns the West against a “Libyan scenario” in Syria.

– June 21: Russian Prime Minister Vladmir Putin says that “interference in the sovereign matters of independent states shows little promise”.

– August 17: The head of Russia’s arms export agency Rosoboronexport says Moscow is continuing to supply weapons to Damascus.

– September 8: Russian President Dmitry Medvedev says that some Syrians protesting against Assad’s regime are “terrorists”.

– October 4: Russia and China veto a UN Security Council resolution threatening action against Syria’s crackdown.

– October 7: Medvedev tells Assad to either reform or resign, while warning the West that Russia will fight outside attempts to oust him.

– November 15: The exiled Syrian opposition visits Moscow for talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

– November 17: Russia says that attacks by renegade Syrian troops could lead to “civil war”.

– December 11: A Russia military official reports that Moscow has delivered supersonic cruise missiles to Syria under a 2007 contract that drew angry protests in the West.

– December 15: Russia proposes a UN Security Council resolution on the Syria crisis. The West says it is not tough enough.

–2012–

– January 8: A large Russian naval flotilla led by an aircraft carrier docks in the port of Tartus, in what Syrian state media hails as a show of solidarity by Moscow.

– January 14: A Russian ship thought to be carrying munitions arrives in Tartus.

– January 23: Syria signs a $550 million (425 million euro) contract to purchase 36 Yak-130 advanced training fighter planes from Russia, according to a report.

– February 4: Russia and China veto a UN Security Council resolution, prompting indignation in the Arab world, in the West and in the Syrian opposition.

– February 7: Lavrov meets Assad in Damascus.

– February 8: Putin cautions against outside interference in the Syrian conflict and warns against behaving “like a bull in a china shop.”