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AFP
Beirut
Syria’s most notorious tycoon has accused security forces of detaining his employees to pressure him into distancing himself from his businesses, amid rumours of tensions with the president.
Rami Makhlouf has long been seen as a pillar of his cousin President Bashar al-Assad’s regime, and been targeted by US and EU sanctions over that support.
He has held leading roles in multiple businesses, including Syria’s largest mobile phone provider Syriatel.
In a filmed statement on Sunday, Makhlouf urged the president to intervene over alleged pressure to distance himself from his companies.
“Today the pressuring has started in an unacceptable way... The security agencies have begun arresting my employees,” he said.
“Would anyone ever have thought that the security agencies would come for Rami Makhlouf’s companies, while he has been their biggest supporter and sponsor throughout the war?” asked the businessman, believed to be in Syria.
“I am asked today to distance myself from the companies and implement instructions,” Makhlouf continued, alleging he had been told “either you give in, or we throw all your people in jail”.
Beirut
Syria’s most notorious tycoon has accused security forces of detaining his employees to pressure him into distancing himself from his businesses, amid rumours of tensions with the president.
Rami Makhlouf has long been seen as a pillar of his cousin President Bashar al-Assad’s regime, and been targeted by US and EU sanctions over that support.
He has held leading roles in multiple businesses, including Syria’s largest mobile phone provider Syriatel.
In a filmed statement on Sunday, Makhlouf urged the president to intervene over alleged pressure to distance himself from his companies.
“Today the pressuring has started in an unacceptable way... The security agencies have begun arresting my employees,” he said.
“Would anyone ever have thought that the security agencies would come for Rami Makhlouf’s companies, while he has been their biggest supporter and sponsor throughout the war?” asked the businessman, believed to be in Syria.
“I am asked today to distance myself from the companies and implement instructions,” Makhlouf continued, alleging he had been told “either you give in, or we throw all your people in jail”.
