Russia denies false Saudi-Israeli reports quoting Bogdanov

Russia vehemently denied the claims issued by the Al-Wattan Saudi Newspaper which claimed that Mikhail Bogdanov had expressed Assad's willingness to step down from power as well as citing injury to Maher Assad.

Al-Wattan Saudi Daily wrote in its Tuesday edition that Deputy Russian Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov said that what is needed is a peaceful transition of powers.               

The Russian diplomat revealed that Maher Assad, the president's brother, was severely injured in the Damascus blast at the National Security HQ that killed four close aides of Assad, according to the Daily.                  

Maher Assad, commander of Syria's 4th Division and of the Republican Guards, lost both his legs in the explosion and is struggling for life, Bogdanov  allegedly said in the later denied interview.                

"Putting down the weapons is the best solution to prevent Syria from deteriorating into civil war, which we believe is imminent," Bogdanov told Al-Watan in a phone conversation quoted by the Times of Israel and Yedioth Ahronoth . "We [Russia] are the only ones who believe in a drive toward a political solution" he said.

All above claims were directly deemed as false statements made on the part of the Saudi paper and Israeli counterparts.