Duma's lone opposition deputy asks Defense Minister Shoigu to explain Russian troops in Syria

Parliament member Dmitry Gudkov, the only anti-Kremlin oppositionist remaining in the Duma, has written a formal letter to Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu, asking him to explain reports that Russian soldiers are fighting alongside Bashar al-Assad's forces in Syria. Gudkov uploaded a copy of the letter to his Facebook page.

Gudkov asks Shoigu two basic questions: (1) are Russian soldiers fighting in Syria alongside Assad? and (2), if they are there fighting, "why is this happening in secret, without the approval of the parliament?"

Gudkov also points out that Putin recently issued an executive order classifying information about peacetime military deaths. When Gudkov previously appealed to the Defense Ministry about Russian soldiers reportedly fighting in Ukraine, officials said the reports were merely rumors and refused to comment on individual soldiers, saying it violated laws on privacy. 

In recent days, several reports in the media and blogosphere have appeared claiming that perhaps as many of a few thousand Russian soldiers are active in or en route to Syria. The Israeli news outlet Ynetnews, for instance, says Russian aircraft will be used to strike ISIS targets inside Syria.

Russian defense officials have denied these claims. Facing criticism from US Foreign Secretary John Kerry, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reminded Washington that Moscow makes no secret of its "military aid to Syria's official authorities for the purpose of combating terrorism." The US-led coalition against ISIS says Assad's government can play no role in Syria's future.