SYRIA RUSSIA PRESIDENT ASSAD DIPLOMACYA handout photo made available by Syrian Arab News Agency ( SANA ) shows Syrian President Bashar Assad ( L ) meeting with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov ( R ) in Damascus , Syria on 29 August 2011 . According to SANA , Assad received a letter from Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on the situation in the region and developments in Syria . An estimated 2 , 200 people have been killed in Syria since pro - democracy protests began in mid - March , according to the United Nations . EPA / SANA / HANDOUT HANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY / NO SALES < 모바일 애플리케이션 > < 포토 매거진 >< 저작권자 ( c ) 연합뉴스 . 무단 전재 - 재배 포금 지 . >