The Arab Spring has presented even more dilemmas for Russia than it has for the West. Commercial considerations have to a large extent dictated its response to events, along with a desire to stymie advantages that may accrue to the West as a result of its interventions.
Since acceding to the NATO-led intervention in Libya, Moscow has been charting a more recalcitrant course regarding non-Arab support for the Arab Spring. Publicly at least, Russia accused NATO of overstepping the mark in its application of the UN Security Council Resolution that Russia abstained from, and was using the resolution as a means of regime removal rather than to protect civilians.
In the case of Syria, Russia has a lot more invested in its relationship with Damascus, which goes part of the way to explaining Moscow's vetoing of the European-sponsored UN Security Council Resolution seeking sanctions against Damascus. It also goes a long way to explaining why three Hizbullah members of parliament are visiting Moscow as guests of the Russian parliament (the Duma).
