Syrian authorities on Thursday took further measures against prominent businessman Rami Makhlouf, President Bashar Assad’s cousin, imposing a temporary travel ban against him.
The order was taken at the request of the telecommunications minister to ensure that Makhlouf pays 185 million dollars in dues owed to the state in revenues generated by his mobile phone company, Syriatel.
He said the order would be dropped if Makhlouf paid the arrears.
Makhlouf, one of Syria’s richest men, had his assets ordered seized this week.
He has addressed the dispute in three video messages in which he has appealed to Assad himself to help save his firm. In his last appearance Makhlouf said he had been told to quit as the head of Syriatel.
Once at the heart of Assad’s inner circle, Makhlouf has called the asset seizure illegal and an attempt by the government to take the company from him. The unprecedented public tussle has uncovered a rare rift in Syria’s ruling elite.
