This post is also available in:
العربية
On Saturday, Russians militias in east of the Euphrates organized a ceremony in which they honored Raed al-Ghadban head of the Deir Ezzor branch of the Al-Baath Socialist Party. Russian and Iranian delegates attended the ceremony.
Al-Ghadban previously fought with the Baath battalions that supported Assad, to later join the delegation of the Assad regime to the Sochi talks, where he is known for his close relations with the Air Force Intelligence Department in Damascus, and for his loyalty to the Russian officers present at their base at Deir Ezzor Military Airport.
Al-Ghadban is known for exploiting his position and growing influence in the area, and for making money with his members by blackmailing the people, arresting their sons or threatening to send them for forced conscription, asking for large sums of money to release them, and other means of extortion that burden the people, and increase the authority and domination of the Assad’ supporters in the area.
