Syria has exemplified one of the region's most tightly controlled media systems for decades. Major outlets, such as state-run newspapers Al-Thawra and Tishreen, were entirely subordinate to the government and primarily used to promote the ideology of the Ba'ath Party. Despite limited political openness in the 2000s, which allowed for the emergence of the first private radio and television stations and partially independent press, these media remained under strict government control. Their owners were closely tied to the regime or the Ba'ath Party. Before the 2011 protests, Syria ranked among the world's ten least free countries for press freedom.
This report documents Russian propaganda narratives that supported pro-Russian political factions, undermined the credibility of the Syrian opposition, and bolstered Assad's position as a guarantor of stability. The analysis also explores their impact on the political, social, and international situation in Syria's dynamically evolving political landscape.
The report was created before the fall of President Bashar al-Assad's regime. It considers the political changes in Syria in 2024 but also documents the narratives developed before the capture of Aleppo, Hama, and Damascus by rebel forces and Assad's subsequent relocation to Moscow.
