Airbus A321 passengers are Russia's first victims in Syrian war - political expert


In an interview with Belsat Russian political analyst Andrey Piontkovsky discusses the topic of whether  Vladimir Putin will recognize the version of a terrorist attack in the sky over Sinai and how he is going to use the fact of Russia’s Airbus A321 crash.

Britain and the United States state that a bomb might have exploded onboard the Kogalymavia passenger aircraft. Why do Russia and Egypt deny the possibility of an attack?

Egypt keeps dismissing it because its recognition may trigger the collapse of the country’s tourism industry which plays a significant part in the country’s economy. In Russia, over the first two days after the disaster technical problems or a pilot’s error were actively discussed in order to divert public opinion from the ‘terrorist’ version that is unfavorable for the Kremlin. Since the beginning of Russia’s operation in Syria, there have been voices harping on about Putin’s endangering the entire country by having Bashar al-Assad as an ally. Putin got into a war between Shiites and Sunnis – and they are about half a billion in the world. And this disaster has brought first deaths of Russian citizens in the Syrian war.

But the Kremlin has realized that they stand a slim chance to speculate over the investigation of the case, because, according to international law, various countries, including the UK, France and Ireland, joined the investigation process. It became clear that sooner or later they would have to recognize the version of an attack, and Russia’s propaganda embarked on a new course. For example, the version has been lately discussed in Russian TV programmes.

Moreover, Putin, who for the first time after the disaster appeared in public during a meeting with the Minister of Transport, hinted that the accident occurred over the area where the Egyptian army were ‘fighting against the extremists’. He also pointedly noted that ‘one should know the exact reasons to properly respond [to the situation]’. Apparently, the Kremlin decided to exploit the tragedy.

I think in a couple of days, Putin will make an address to the nation in the style ‘Arise, Great Country!’ to raise the degree of military hysteria, to further escalate the conflict, and probably, to start a ground operation in the Middle East.

Putin will be pleased to buildup their military presence in Syria to make it hot for Americans. He will show off his support of al-Assad as a war against the Islamic state. And he will name his price, i.e. lifting of sanctions and reducing tension over Russia’s participation in the Ukrainan conflict. In my view, such plans are now being hatched in the Kremlin.

There are reports about a crash landing in Pulkovo – the plane belongs to Kogalymavia. Is it possible that Airbus A321 crashed due to a technical malfunction?

The incident in Pulkovo is very revealing. 99% of all aviation accidents happen during take-off or landing. Incidents rarely occur in the sky. Moreover, the sources close to the investigation say directly that there was an explosion inside the plane. The case is similar to Libyans’ destruction of the Pan American aircraft, when a bomb was planted in the luggage.

Vital Babin

TWITTER