21 Apr 2017 17:58

Al-Assad's children learning Russian

MOSCOW. April 21 (Interfax) - Russian has become a second language at Syrian schools, with many parents naming their children Putin, Syrian Ambassador to Russia Riyad Haddad said.

"The decision by President Bashar al-Assad to make Russian a second language in Syria is one of elements of the Syrian people's gratitude to the Russian people for their support. Many families have even named their child Putin. It is no secret, if I tell you, that the children of the president [al-Assad] are now learning Russian," Haddad said during his speech in the Federation Council

All Syrian universities have opened Russian language departments, the ambassador said. Schools start teaching Russian from grade seven.