Mikhail Kasyanov on Putin’s Role in Syria

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR: Do you think he has any sympathy for the Syrian Kurds or is he kind of OK with this development because now Russian forces have rushed up there?

MIKHAIL KASYANOV, FORMER RUSSIAN PRIME MINISTER: Mr. Putin is OK only with one issue, how to keep personal power. And to dismiss to — by, I would, say protest different dictators like we had in just — and before, now including Assad, for them, it’s unacceptable at all. That’s why he’s fighting for his own future, not to have another example that dictator could be dismissed by people’s movement with the support of different other allies.

AMANPOUR: Because he doesn’t want that to happen to himself?

KASYANOV: Absolutely. The same in Ukraine. Same in other countries.

AMANPOUR: Let me just ask you again, though, because Russians seem to be – – they’re happy that their leadership, that their country is playing a major role, and actually, I don’t know whether you agree, but sort of filling a vacuum that seems to have been left by the United States, progressively, and now, at its (INAUDIBLE) with this issue. I mean, you have Putin obviously making hay our of what’s happening in Syria. Putin was in Saudi Arabia not so long ago. You know, he is here, there and everywhere. He’s got very close ties with the prime minister of Israel. Despite your differences and your political differences with Putin himself, as a Russian, do you think it’s good for Russia to be able to fill this vacuum in the Middle East?

KASYANOV: In fact, Russian society is split approximately 50/50. 50 percent who, in reality, support Putin. They are ready to be in poor position and keep patience. And just — this is post-empire, Soviet empire syndrome, works well. But other 50 percent, mostly middle class living in the big cities, of course, the contrary, absolutely against these things. They would like to be a normal European state so that human rights will be protected and their rights toward to be elected and elect would be implemented and practice. But Putin ignoring this. That’s why he needs short victories, quick victories, to raise personal legitimacy outside Russia, because inside Russia he doesn’t have enough of legitimacy.

AMANPOUR: That’s interesting.

KASYANOV: That’s why short victorious war in Syria, that is sort of propaganda. And now, just these 50 percent applauding Mr. Putin that, finally, he got what he wanted. He’s bringing back together with Erdogan and Iranian authority, bringing back almost the whole territory of Syria and Assad’s control.