"U.N. chemical weapons inspectors to return to Syria" http://edition.cnn.com/2013/09/18/world/meast/syria-civil-war/index.html Russia denounces U.N. report Soon after Western countries said the U.N. findings implicated the Syrian regime in using sarin gas, Russia fired back, calling the report "distorted."
"Syria allies: Why Russia, Iran and China are standing by the regime" http://edition.cnn.com/2013/08/29/world/meast/syria-iran-china-russia-supporters/index.html Syrian contracts with the Russian defense industry have likely exceeded $4 billion, according to Jeffrey Mankoff, an adjunct fellow with the Center for Strategic and International Studies Russia and Eurasia Program.