“Syria is one of Russia’s last Middle East footholds and hosts a base for the Russian navy on its coast. Russia has adamantly opposed any foreign intervention in the country, though Moscow says it is not tied to Assad.
Soyuzneftegaz is a Russian oil and gas company. It is headed by Russia’s former energy minister Yuri Shafranik. The main shareholder is the Central Bank of Russia.”
http://www.yalibnan.com/2013/12/25/syria-rewards-russia-with-an-oil-deal/
> Russia has adamantly opposed any foreign intervention in the country
Other than Russia and Iran, of course.