Reports indicate that the cousin of the Syrian President, Suleiman Al-Assad, is now facing a 20 year prison sentence after a military court hearing for his murder of a police officer during a traffic stop which invoked massive protests from Alawite activists in Latakia.

Even further, this corresponds with the government’s crackdown on corruption that has now lead to the laying off the Ba’ath Party National Leadership that is expected to have new elections later this week and the expulsion of several high ranking military officials (no names given thus far). Our source in Damascus tells us that the General Secretary of Customs in Syria, Magdy Hakmyah, has been dismissed and will be replaced with Fawaaz Asaad, Hisham al-Shaar will be appointed be as President of the State Council, and it is expected that many more changes will be made to the service institutions.

These changes are huge for a fragile economic system in Syria that is struggling to accommodate citizens and they may influence the upcoming Geneva talks.