Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday promised to ask former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for help in locating missing American veteran and journalist Austin Tice. The commitment came in response to a heartfelt letter from Tice’s mother, Debra Tice, who appealed to Putin for assistance.
During a press conference with NBC, Putin stated, “I haven’t seen President Assad yet, since he came to Moscow – but I plan to do so. I will have a conversation with him.” However, he expressed skepticism about Assad’s ability to provide concrete information. “We are adults, we understand – 12 years ago, a person went missing in Syria, 12 years ago. We understand what the situation was and 12 years ago acts of hostilities were ongoing from both sides,” he noted.
Putin questioned whether Assad knew what had happened to Tice, who disappeared in August 2012 while reporting on the Syrian uprising. Despite his reservations, Putin assured, “Nonetheless, I do promise that I will ask this question to him.”
Debra Tice’s letter, obtained by Fox News, highlighted Russia’s close ties to Syria and urged Putin to use his influence to locate her son. “The current situation in Syria compels us to ask for your help in finding Austin and safely reuniting our family. You have profound connections with the Syrian government, which can be a great benefit for our unrelenting efforts to find our Austin,” she wrote.
Her plea came amid the holiday season, emphasizing peace and goodwill. “We respectfully request your assistance in finding Austin and safely reuniting him with our family. We would, of course, be willing to travel to Moscow or any other place on Earth to put our arms around our precious Austin and bring him home safely,” she added.
In an interview with NBC News, Debra Tice defended her decision to reach out to Putin, stating, “Of course I am reaching out to powerful people, so they can help us.” She noted Russia’s longstanding presence in Syria, particularly at the Latakia port, as a reason for believing they have insights into Tice’s fate. “We are still trying to find out where he is,” she emphasized.
Austin Tice, a Marine veteran turned freelance journalist, was abducted in Damascus while covering the early stages of the Syrian civil war. The Syrian government has refused to negotiate his release for over a decade. Following the collapse of the Assad regime earlier this month, the U.S. State Department ramped up efforts to locate Tice, offering a $10 million reward for information that leads to his recovery.
As Syria enters a transitional phase, hopes remain that new diplomatic avenues will provide answers about Tice’s whereabouts and ensure his safe return home.