The Assad regime sent nearly two tonnes of $100 and €500 notes to Russia by air between March 2018 and September 2019, the Financial Times has revealed. During that period, 21 flights transported more than $250 million in cash from Syria to Moscow’s Vnukovo Airport. Records reviewed by the FT show the funds were deposited in two Russian banks, Russian Financial Corporation (RFK) and TsMR Bank, which are subject to US sanctions. RFK, as noted, is a subsidiary of Rosoboronexport, Russia’s state arms exporter. By 2018, Syria’s foreign exchange reserves were nearly depleted, a source told the FT as international sanctions left the Central Bank relying on cash payments to procure Russian wheat and cover “defence” expenses. The source said the payments were made using “whatever was available in the treasury”. As noted, these cash transfers took place when “the then […]
Source: News Beast
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