Why does Russia support Syria's al-Assad?

I think everyone will see that Russia may have a more complicated motive for involvement in Syria. Clearly it is strange to see Russian Neighboring countries who were presecuted by the Soviet Union returning to Russian influence. I believe these two topics are related and that the same force may be driving them both.

RU could be using Syria as a distraction to continue its gradual takeover and manipulation of centeral Asia - countries on RU borders or the countries that comprised the former Soviet Union. RU is desperately trying to reassemble the former Soviet Union or at least Russia’s regional interests and power.

America and Europe are missing the point on what’s happening because they are not speaking directly with the citizens of these border countries. We cannot and should not downplay the erosive influence of extremist Islam and what is now happening in Europe. This is a critical factor. These border countries also are seeing the current cultural and criminal chaos of European immigration. More often or not these countries are displaying the pattern and belief, true or not, That they are defending their populations from harm. They are aligning with russia because they view it as a nation which is not willing to allow Christians to be murdered. These are unintended secondary effects of extremism and politically correctness run amuck. Everyone hears the news and sees the repression and hate crimes being committed while the European leaders fail to act in defense protecting everyone’s lives; safety, cultural and religious beliefs. If we want the world more peaceful and Democratic we need to encourage peaceful voices and reject extremism and violence no matter how politically incorrect that may be.

Thank you for the interesting video MAJ.