MOSCOW. March 14 (Interfax) - Russian Investigative Committee chief Alexander Bastrykin has visited Syria, where he signed a document on cooperation in fighting terrorism with the Syrian Justice Ministry, Investigative Committee spokeswoman Svetlana Petrenko said.
"Alexander Bastrykin had a number of meetings with officials from relevant Syrian agencies in Damascus during a visit to the Syrian Arab Republic on March 13," Petrenko told Interfax on Wednesday.
Bastrykin met with the chief of the National Security Bureau of the Ba'ath Party, Gen. Ali Mamlouk, to discuss investigations into terrorism-related crimes and crimes committed against Russian servicemen in Syrian territory, she said.
"Following the talks, the Russian Investigative Committee and the Syrian Justice Ministry signed a protocol on cooperation. The parties said cooperation under the protocol involves assistance in investigating crimes and exchanging information on individuals responsible for terrorism-related crimes, which will enable [the agencies] to take decisions quickly in investigating criminal cases of this category," Petrenko said.
Bastrykin discussed mechanisms of practical interaction with Syrian Justice Minister Hisham al-Shaar and his deputy Tayisir al-Samadi, who heads the committee on the documentation of terrorism-related crimes.
"Alexander Bastrykin thanked the relevant Syrian agencies for comprehensive assistance to Russian investigators probing criminal cases, stressing that, owing to combined efforts, a considerable evidence basis has been collected, and certain individuals will be held criminally liable for their unlawful deeds," Petrenko said.
Bastrykin also expressed hope that cooperation with Syrian counterparts will continue in this positive vein and that Syrian law enforcement will facilitate investigative procedures in Syrian territory.
"In the second part of the day, Bastrykin visited the Russian military base in Hmeimim, where he hosted a conference with Russian Investigative Committee investigators, giving them a number of specific instructions and directives," Petrenko said.