Araik Sargsyan, Deputy Director of the Russian Academy of Geopolitical Affairs, is reported to have stated today that Syrian President Bashar al Assad is preparing to implement serious political reforms in the country his family has ruled for several decades.

Sargsyan says that his think-tank cooperates with the center for strategic studies in Syria and that they want Bashar al Assad to maintain power and implement the reforms he’s promised.

He also argues that Armenians living in Syria have done well under both Hafez and Bashar al Assad.

Sargsyan boasts of having recently visited Syria where his delegation held meetings with top government officials.

Maybe Araik Sargsyan knows something the political opposition in Syria is not aware of.