Russian House in Damascus will resume operations

Russian House in Damascus will resume operations, confirmed by Rosotrudnichestvo.

Consensus

A delegation from Rossotrudnichestvo traveled to Damascus in August 2026.
The Russian House in Damascus had been inactive since December 2024.
The delegation visited the building and discussed practical steps for its restoration and resumption of activities.
The Russian House is expected to resume operations, with plans for educational and humanitarian programs.
The new Syrian authorities and Rossotrudnichestvo agreed in June 2026 to restart the Russian House.
The agreement included an increase in student quotas at Russian universities for Syrian citizens.

The Russian House is being repositioned as a hybrid structure combining humanitarian outreach and a platform for maintaining Russia's presence in Syria, especially as military and diplomatic channels face pressure. — tg_rybar
The Russian military presence in Syria, including bases in Khmeimim and Tartus, is being reduced under a memorandum that transforms them into joint training centers and transfers parts of infrastructure to Syrian control. — tg_rybar
Russia's shift toward humanitarian and educational initiatives is seen as a more stable channel of influence than military presence, which can be pressured by Western and Gulf partners. — tg_rybar
The Russian House is not intended as a classical cultural center but as a mechanism to sustain Russia’s influence through civilian and economic partnerships with the private sector. — tg_rybar
The visit was conducted under the direction of Rossotrudnichestvo head Igor Chayka, with Deputy Head Alexey Kleschev leading the delegation. — kommersant
The Russian House was suspended in December 2024 following the takeover of power by an Islamist coalition and the flight of President Bashar al-Assad to Russia. — kommersant