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Assad’s billionaire cousin denies tax evasion, begs for help in Facebook video

Syrian telecom tycoon Rami Makhlouf has made a rare public statement calling on his cousin President Bashar al-Assad to dismiss charges of tax evasion.

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A screenshot of the video Rami Makhlouf posted on Facebook. — Facebook

In the latest twist in the family drama involving the Syrian president and his internationally sanctioned billionaire cousin, businessman Rami Makhlouf denied charges of dodging taxes and issued a rare direct plea to his maternal cousin, Bashar al-Assad. 

“We are not evading taxes. We are not manipulating the state and the country, because you are our people,” Makhlouf said, addressing Assad directly. 

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