In an episode aired on 11 May 2026 of the program “For the Sake of the Story,” Syrian Deputy Interior Minister Major General Abdul Qadir al-Tahan said the prosecution of former Political Security Branch chief in Daraa, Atef Najeeb, marks “a shift from conflict management to building a legal and institutional path for accountability.” He described the move as carrying political, legal, and symbolic significance for Syrians affected by past abuses.

Al-Tahan added that transitional justice in Syria is not limited to prosecuting individuals, but rather involves uncovering the truth, ensuring accountability, reparations, and preventing the recurrence of violations. He stressed that the authorities are actively working to pursue those involved in serious crimes against Syrians.

Regarding legal proceedings, the deputy minister revealed that Damascus has begun, through Interpol, procedures to pursue several former officials who fled the country, noting that Bashar al-Assad’s name would top the wanted lists as the primary figure responsible for crimes committed against the Syrian people.

He further stated that Syria has formally requested Russia to extradite Bashar al-Assad, though the request has not yet been fulfilled, marking the first official acknowledgment of direct attempts to secure Russian cooperation in the case.

In Absentia Arrest Warrants

Syrian Attorney General Hassan al-Turbeh said the authorities have issued in-absentia arrest warrants against several prominent figures of the former regime and are coordinating with Interpol and multiple states to track and extradite them to Syrian courts.

He confirmed that the Ministry of Justice is relying on a comprehensive political, legal, and human rights framework to prevent perpetrators from escaping accountability, including asset freezes, travel bans, witness protection measures, and encouraging victims to file complaints.

In a related development, al-Tahan revealed that following the fall of the former regime, Syrian authorities secured between 90 and 95 percent of its archival records, including documents and evidence. He said a dedicated unit has been established within the ministry to safeguard these files and use them in investigations and trials.

The official added that the authorities are not relying solely on individual testimonies but possess extensive documentation implicating security and military officials, noting that investigations are ongoing with several detained officers accused of widespread violations during years of conflict.

Al-Tahan also pointed out that the scale of crimes committed over more than five decades of Assad family rule makes it difficult to set a clear timeline for transitional justice. He suggested that 2030 could mark a “real beginning of national recovery and the rebuilding of the social contract in Syria,” provided that a transparent legal and institutional framework is successfully established.