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Fyodor Lukyanov is editor in chief of the journal Russia in Global Affairs.

Resume: "Why does Russia support dictators?"� a French correspondent who has come to Moscow to find out about Russia's stance on Syria asked me.

“Why does Russia support dictators?” a French correspondent who has come to Moscow to find out about Russia’s stance on Syria asked me. “Why does the West support the Islamists and terrorists who came to power after the revolutions?” I shot back. After exchanging these stereotypical “pleasantries,” we got down to some honest discussions.

Russia has unexpectedly become a key player in the Syrian drama. It is preventing the UN Security Council from legitimizing the policy of exerting...