Syrian Opposition Group Claims FSA Envoys Visited Moscow to Establish Trust

A leader of a Syrian opposition group confirmed to Sputnik on Tuesday that representatives of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) had visited Moscow.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – On Monday, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov said that a FSA delegation had visited Moscow last week. However, media reported on Tuesday that one of the FSA-affiliated groups had refuted this information.

The Popular Diplomacy Movement’s Bassam Bunni claimed that his party acted as a mediator between Moscow and the FSA.

"Yes, the representatives of the FSA are visiting Russia for talks and consultations with an aim of establishing trust between the sides. We, in the Popular Diplomacy Movement initiative, are in touch with the FSA representatives and with its field commanders in a number of Syrian regions under its control," Bunni said.

According to Bunni, several meetings have already taken place in secret at FSA’s request.

FSA is one of the groups labeled a moderate opposition by the West. Washington trained and equipped the FSA in hopes they would counter IS, but shut this program down earlier this month after spending almost $500 million dollars with no measurable result.

Russia began conducting airstrikes on Iterrorist positions in Syria in late September following a request from Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Assad acceded to possible support of Syrian opposition factions by Moscow, if they exist and are proven to fight terrorism. Moscow has also asked Washington to help it establish contact with the moderate opposition factions, such as the Free Syrian Army, to set up a political dialogue, but did not get a US response.