Syria Opposition Rejects Russian Draft of New Constitution

Russia handed opposition draft constitution at Astana talks
Only Syrians can decide political future, opposition says

Chief opposition negotiator Mohammad Alloush, center, of the Jaish al-Islam (Army of Islam) rebel group attends the first session of Syria peace talks at Astana's Rixos President Hotel on Jan. 23.
Photographer: KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via Getty Images

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By Henry Meyer

January 25, 2017 at 4:39 PM UTC

Updated on

January 25, 2017 at 7:10 PM UTC

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Syria’s opposition rejected a proposal from Russia on a new constitution for the conflict-torn country, warning the Kremlin against repeating the mistake made by the Bush administration after the U.S.-led overthrow of Saddam Hussein in Iraq.

Russia presented the document in Arabic during a meeting with the chief rebel negotiator, Mohammed Alloush, at peace talks this week in the capital of Kazakhstan, Astana. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Wednesday that the blueprint written by Russian experts was based on ideas from the Syrian government, opposition and regional powers.