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Beirut: The security services of the Syrian regime have released dozens of employees of companies of prominent businessman Rami Makhlouf, against whom the authorities have taken a series of strict measures in recent months, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
Makhlouf (51 years old), cousin of the president of the regime, Bashar al-Assad, has a conflict with the government, whose characteristics began to be glimpsed on the horizon last summer. And he appealed to al-Assad to intervene to stop what he describes as “injustice” to which he is being subjected by the authorities, who he said seek to overthrow him, after they asked him to pay the sums owed to the Communications Regulatory Authority. and your company’s emails.
A few months ago, Makhlouf accused the security services of arresting his employees to pressure him to quit his companies, notably Syriatel, which owns about 70 percent of the telecommunications market in Syria.
The Syrian Observatory reported that the security services “released most of the detainees” of those who worked in the Makhlouf institutions, including 41 employees of “Syriatel” and another 57 who worked in the humanitarian organization “Al Bustan Society” that he headed. He also referred to the release of 58 “officers and members of the regime forces” cooperating with Makhlouf’s armed groups.
A former “Syriatel” employee, who asked not to be identified, confirmed “the release of several employees and managers,” stating that he personally knew four of them.
Makhlouf has been in conflict with the government since, in the summer of 2019, he took control of the Al Bustan Association, which formed the “humanitarian facade” for his actions during the conflict years. The armed groups associated with him also disbanded.
Last December, the government issued a series of decisions to seize the movable and immovable funds of several large businessmen, including Makhlouf, his wife and his partners. They have been charged with tax evasion and making illegal profits during the war since 2011.
In late June, the Syrian Ministry of Economy terminated contracts awarded to companies owned by Makhlouf to operate in free markets.
After years in which he remained out of the spotlight, Makhlouf came to light in a series of video clips and controversial statements, which he published in succession from the end of April, during which he directed harsh criticism at the authorities, who considered that they were seeking to overthrow him. In it, he asked al-Assad to intervene to save “Syriatel” after the government asked him to pay more than $ 180 million as part of the treasury dues.
In May, the Justice Ministry issued a decree temporarily banning him from traveling due to money owed to the state.
There were no official comments from Damascus on the conflict between the two sides, but last month al-Assad confirmed that the authorities “continue to recover stolen public funds.
Makhlouf, who is worth billions of dollars, leads an economic empire that includes companies in the telecommunications, electricity and real estate sectors.
(AFP)
