![Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attend a concert, dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the restoration of diplomatic relations between the two countries at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, June 7, 2016. Sputnik/Kremlin/Mikhail Klimentyev/via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. EDITORIAL USE ONLY. - RTSGGFA](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2016/11/RTSGGFA.jpg/RTSGGFA.jpg?h=f7822858&itok=BIL-_Kjm)
Yury Barmin, an analyst of Russia’s foreign policy in the Middle East, is a MENA expert at the Russian International Affairs Council. Yury holds a master's degree in international relations from the University of Cambridge. On Twitter: @russia_mideast
![Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attend a concert, dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the restoration of diplomatic relations between the two countries at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, June 7, 2016. Sputnik/Kremlin/Mikhail Klimentyev/via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. EDITORIAL USE ONLY. - RTSGGFA](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2016/11/RTSGGFA.jpg/RTSGGFA.jpg?h=f7822858&itok=BIL-_Kjm)
![A man rides a bicycle past burning tyres, which activists said are used to create smoke cover from warplanes, in Aleppo, Syria August 1, 2016. REUTERS/Abdalrhman Ismail - RTSKLM0](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2016/08/RTSKLM0.jpg/RTSKLM0.jpg?h=f7822858&itok=oY2bb5gk)
![Yury Barmin](https://www.al-monitor.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/authors/2016/Yury_Barmin.jpg/Yury_Barmin.jpg?h=55541bb6&itok=-lJNY_S8)
Yury Barmin
![Then-General Khalifa Haftar speaks during a news conference in Abyar, east of Benghazi May 31, 2014. Growing frustration over the reality of life in eastern Libya, which contrasts with the promises of politicians, is feeding support for Haftar, who has set himself up as a warrior against Islamist militancy and who some also see as their saviour. Picture taken May 31, 2014. REUTERS/Esam Omran Al-Fetori (LIBYA - Tags: CIVIL UNREST POLITICS MILITARY) - RTR4QLTY](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2016/07/RTR4QLTY.jpg/RTR4QLTY.jpg?h=f7822858&itok=obNkobAB)
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Yury Barmin
![RTR4XGB6.jpg](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2016/06/RTR4XGB6.jpg/RTR4XGB6.jpg?h=f7822858&itok=a6SVDKtO)
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Yury Barmin