The Syrian regime is engaging in clandestine business practices designed to help Assad avoid international sanctions, according to documents seen by The Guardian. They show that shell companies have been created – at least three in a single day – whose sole purpose is to buy shares in other companies and manage their affairs. Such practices allow sanctioned individuals to bypass and avoid international sanctions. The owners of the shell companies have direct ties to Syria’s Bashar al-Assad and other leading figures in the Syrian regime who have been sanctioned for their involvement in crimes a…