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Egypt, Bulgaria Bolster Military, Industrial Cooperation

The Egyptian Minister of State for Military Production discusses cooperation with the Ambassador of Bulgaria (Egyptian government’s Facebook)
The Egyptian Minister of State for Military Production discusses cooperation with the Ambassador of Bulgaria (Egyptian government’s Facebook)
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Egypt, Bulgaria Bolster Military, Industrial Cooperation

The Egyptian Minister of State for Military Production discusses cooperation with the Ambassador of Bulgaria (Egyptian government’s Facebook)
The Egyptian Minister of State for Military Production discusses cooperation with the Ambassador of Bulgaria (Egyptian government’s Facebook)

Egypt and Bulgaria have bolstered their military and industrial cooperation to support Cairo’s sustainable development strategies.

Minister of State for Military Production Mohamed Ahmed Morsi pointed to the ministry’s keenness to benefit from Bulgaria’s expertise in various fields, and to cooperate with several international companies in the field of transferring and localizing modern technologies in Egypt.

"This comes in line with Egypt’s goal to develop industrial, technical and technological capacities to support its sustainable development strategies by relying on local labor," Morsi explained.

His remarks were made on Saturday during a meeting with Bulgaria’s ambassador to Cairo Deyan Angelov Katratchev. The two men discussed the means of bolstering cooperation in various industrial fields.

According to a cabinet statement, Morsi affirmed that his meeting with Katratchev emphasized keenness to strengthen strategic partnership in different fields between the two countries to benefit both peoples.

He underscored the ministry’s main role to meet the demands and needs of the armed forces and the police in terms of ammunition, weapons and equipment, the statement added.

Katratchev said opportunities are available to enhance military and civil cooperation with Egypt, in light of the great economic potentials both countries possess.

He hoped the meeting would play a major role in opening new horizons for investment and cooperation between military production companies.

The ambassador further hailed Cairo’s pivotal role in the Middle East and African region and its counter-terrorism efforts.

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Arab World

SOHR: Document Reveals Assad Family Smuggled Millions to Moscow

The historic Hotel Ukraina in central Moscow (Wikipedia)
The historic Hotel Ukraina in central Moscow (Wikipedia)
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SOHR: Document Reveals Assad Family Smuggled Millions to Moscow

The historic Hotel Ukraina in central Moscow (Wikipedia)
The historic Hotel Ukraina in central Moscow (Wikipedia)

A confidential document obtained by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) has revealed massive money smuggling operations carried out via Syrian Airlines to Moscow.
The operations are described as among the most corrupt financial transfers orchestrated by the now-defunct Syrian regime.
According to the document, the majority of the funds stem from profits made through the production and trade of Captagon, a highly lucrative illicit drug.
The head of SOHR, Rami Abdel Rahman, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the most recent transfer took place just four days before Syrian President Bashar al-Assad fled to Moscow in December of last year.
Rami Abdel Rahman also affirmed that the leaked document underscores the “deep involvement of the former Syrian regime in illegal activities.”
He added that further investigations could uncover a vast network of secret financial operations used to transfer large sums of money from Syria to Russia and other countries under official cover and without oversight.
“The regime, led by the ousted Assad and his brother, spearheaded drug-related investments, particularly through the production, promotion, and export of Captagon,” Abdel Rahman told Asharq Al-Awsat.
He explained that one key route involved a small port near the Afamia chalets on Syria's coast, which previously belonged to Rifaat al-Assad, the brother of late former President Hafez al-Assad.
From there, shipments were sent via smugglers to Italian ports, where collaborating traders distributed the drugs globally.
A Syrian source based in Russia, closely monitoring the regime’s activities and investments there, said the content of the leaked document is not new but that its official confirmation adds weight to prior claims.
“Western media had previously reported on the regime’s money-smuggling operations, which led to some loyalists being added to international sanctions lists, particularly regime-linked businessmen like Mudalal Khouri,” the source, who requested anonymity, told Asharq Al-Awsat.
Sanctions were also imposed on individuals accused of money laundering for the regime.
The source confirmed that the operations were conducted using Syrian Airlines flights to Moscow.
“There were dozens of such flights, each loaded with hard currency—mostly US dollars and €500 euro notes,” the source said.
The money was reportedly delivered directly from the airport to the Syrian regime's embassy in Moscow, where it was distributed to loyalist businessmen.
These funds were then invested in Russian and Belarusian banks, real estate, and commercial properties. Some of the money was also used to establish companies in both countries.
The operations were allegedly overseen by Mohammed Makhlouf, the maternal uncle of Assad.