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Putin to question Assad about US journalist missing in Syria

The Russian leader clarified that he had not yet met with the Syrian ex-president after his arrival in Moscow but planned to speak with him

MOSCOW, December 19. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin stated at his annual press conference and Q&A session that Syrian ex-President Bashar Assad knows little about the long-missing US journalist Austin Tice but promised to ask him about the case.

"We are all adults and understand the situation. A man went missing in Syria 12 years ago. We know what was happening in the country at that time - there was active fighting on both sides," Putin responded to a question from an NBC reporter about an appeal from a woman asking for help in bringing her son home from Syria. "Does Assad himself actually know what happened to this American citizen, who, as far as I understand, was carrying out his journalistic duties in the war zone? Nevertheless, I promise that I will ask him that question. Just as I can ask those who control the situation on the ground in Syria today," the Russian president said.

Putin clarified that he has not yet met with the Syrian ex-president after his arrival in Moscow but plans to speak with him.

NBC reported that the mother of the missing Austin Tice pleaded with Putin for his help in locating her son in Syria, where he is allegedly being held.