Russian President Vladimir Putin pledged on Thursday to speak with former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad about aiding in the search for American veteran and journalist Austin Tice following a heartfelt letter from Tice’s mother requesting assistance.
“Although I have not met with President Assad since his arrival in Moscow, I intend to do so and discuss this matter with him,” Putin informed NBC during a press briefing through a translator. He expressed some skepticism about Assad’s potential to provide assistance by noting, “We are adults, we understand – 12 years ago, an individual went missing in Syria.”
“We would unquestionably travel to Moscow or any other location on this planet to embrace our beloved Austin and bring him back unharmed,” his mother emphasized.
In an interview with NBC News, Debra defended her decision to write to the authoritarian leader, one of the U.S.’ chief adversaries, and said, “Of course I am reaching out to powerful people, so they can help us.”
“Russia has had a port there in Latakia forever, so I do think they have the ability to know what’s going on the ground. We are still trying to find out where he is,” she emphasized.
The State Department is offering $10 million for information relating to locating Austin Tice. (The State Department’s Reward for Justice)
The State Department has escalated its efforts to find Tice following the fall of the Assad regime, including by offering a $10 million reward for information relating to his release.
“We have fanned out everywhere with every possible source, every possible actor who might be able to get information,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Thursday in his interview with MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” in a transcript sent out by the State Department. “This involves anyone and everyone who has some relationship with the different rising authorities in Syria. We’ve been in direct contact with them ourselves. We have other partners on the ground, and we’re looking at getting on the ground ourselves as quickly as we can.
“But the most important thing is this: Any piece of information we get, any lead we have, we’re following it. We have ways of doing that irrespective of exactly where we are,” Blinken continued. “And I can just tell you that this is the number-one priority… to get Austin.”
