A Global Alliance Against Authoritarianism: Syrians and Ukrainians Stand Together

First, I want to congratulate the Syrian people for their hard-won and long-sought victory in toppling the brutal Assad regime. After decades of unspeakable suffering, devastation, and horrors, Assad has fled to Russia, marking a crucial moment in the long struggle for freedom and justice in Syria. This is not just a victory for Syria but a beacon of hope for all who fight against oppressive regimes. The fight is not over though. Now, we must demand that all those responsible be held accountable and face justice.

The people of Syria and Ukraine share a unique bond forged in common enemies and the fight for a better future, accountability, and justice. Both nations have faced the horrors of Russia’s atrocities and war crimes and both have resisted with incredible resilience. Syrians, who endured the devastation of Russian airstrikes and the brutality of Assad’s regime, have shown unwavering solidarity with Ukraine in their battle against Russia’s invasion. Similarly, Ukrainians have supported Syrians, recognizing their shared fight against brutality and in seeking justice.

The wholesale horrors of the Assad regime, which began in 2011, became a brutal battleground not just between the Syrian people and their government but also between global forces. Russia and Iran played central roles in keeping the Assad regime in power, committing unspeakable atrocities, crimes of aggression, and war crimes. The Russian military unleashed airstrikes on civilian targets (schools, hospitals, and humanitarian corridors), Russia covered up the use of chemical weapons, and Russian mercenaries and military forces relentlessly targeted civilians and infrastructures with devastating precision and brutality. Together, the Assad regime, Russia, and Iran are responsible for the deaths of over 500,000 Syrians. They propped up Assad with military, political, and economic support, ensuring the continuation of his brutal dictatorship.

Yet, as Russia's assault against Ukraine intensified in 2022, with the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the people of Syria saw the familiar scenes once again and reached out to the Ukrainian community to see how they could help. The same forces that had tried to crush their rebellion were now attacking all of Ukraine—carpet bombing towns and villages, committing genocide, and wreaking havoc across the country. Russia, having been complicit in Assad's brutal crackdown, was now engaged in its own genocidal campaign against Ukraine. Syrian’s memory of Russia’s cruelty and its partnership with Iran resonated deeply with Ukrainians, who now face the same existential threat from Russia and Iran that have shown no regard for human life. As the full-scale war unfolded in Ukraine, the bond between Syrians and Ukrainians deepened, united by their shared enemies and the common goal of demanding that all responsible be held accountable and face justice.

This solidarity has gone beyond mere gestures. In Ukraine, Syrians have actively joined the fight against Russian imperialism, offering humanitarian aid, engaging in advocacy, participating in joint conferences, and standing side by side with their Ukrainian friends. Similarly, Ukrainians—soldiers and civilians alike—have expressed their support for the Syrian cause, understanding that the struggle against war crimes, corruption, and oppression is a shared global fight.

This shared fight for freedom against authoritarian regimes unites us all, just as these oppressive regimes—an axis of evil—collaborate to disrupt the world order. They have no qualms about using the most savage tactics to achieve their goals and are a threat to the entire world. The struggles of Ukrainians, Syrians, and others remind us that cruelty knows no borders.

Our movement against authoritarianism transcends national boundaries, uniting people from all corners of the world who uphold the core values of democracy, freedom, justice, and human rights. As Americans prepare for their fight against authoritarianism, we can take comfort in the fact that we are not alone. Across the globe, from Europe to the Middle East, countless allies are ready to stand with us in this battle.