Syrian businessman Rami Makhlouf, the cousin of President Bashar al-Assad, accused security forces he did not name of intending to evacuate the country from all investors except for what he described as the wealthy of the war.
In a post on his Facebook account, Makhlouf revealed some details of the Syrian regime's attempts to acquire "Al-Sham" Holding Company, one of the largest joint-stock companies in the country, and those attempts included arresting and exerting pressure on employees, according to his description.
Makhlouf also revealed in his publication that the creation of small companies, such as the "Ornina" company, which is a front for the "Al-Sham" Holding Company, is one of the mechanisms to circumvent the sanctions against the Al-Sham Company.
Controversy and reasons
It is noteworthy that a dispute broke out between Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Makhlouf for months, against the background of problems between the latter and the names of Bashar al-Assad's wife.
And in the middle of last May, Makhlouf went out with two video recordings complaining about the increase in the financial burden imposed by the system on his companies, and his demand to pay additional taxes in billions of pounds.
He was critical of the economy’s management since mid-2019, and even before that since the beginning of the war in the country in early 2011, and Makhlouf is considered one of the largest businessmen of the Syrian regime, and he benefited from the relationship of kinship that links him with Assad in forming a great wealth.
He was one of the most prominent "symbols of corruption" that had been attacked by demonstrations in the country after the outbreak of the revolution in March 2011.
The system accuses Syriatel of being 134 billion liras, or about $ 77 million, according to the current exchange rate in the parallel market.
Makhlouf is also accused by the opposition and Western countries of playing a major role in financing the war effort against his people since 2011, and is subject to US and European sanctions.