Bashar al-Assad's Escape and Current Status in Moscow
Al Jazeera's correspondent in Moscow, Rania Dridi, has reported on the recent whereabouts of ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his family. Following their escape from Syria, they initially took refuge at the Four Seasons Hotel near Red Square in Moscow. Dridi revealed that during their stay, a member of the Syrian community encountered Assad's wife, Asma, and their children, who were under strict security. Since leaving the hotel, their current location remains undisclosed.
Reports indicate that Assad and his family have acquired several properties in Moscow, particularly in the commercial and residential center known as “Moscow City.” These assets are valued at millions of dollars, highlighting the financial maneuvers of the Assad regime. According to the Financial Times, approximately $250 million was transferred from the Assad regime to Moscow between 2018 and 2019, facilitating the secret purchase of these properties despite ongoing Western sanctions.
Russian Government's Position on Assad
The situation surrounding Assad's protection in Russia has been met with ambiguity. Sergei Naryshkin, Director of Russian Foreign Intelligence, declined to comment on whether Russian authorities are providing protection to Assad and his family. However, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov previously confirmed that Assad is considered a guest of Russia, marking the first official acknowledgment of his status since fleeing Syria.
Russian President Vladimir Putin granted asylum to Assad upon his arrival in Moscow, citing humanitarian reasons. Despite this, Dridi notes that Assad has become politically irrelevant in Putin's eyes, as the Russian government no longer views him as a significant player in the political landscape of Syria.
In addition to Assad's situation, there have been reports of the evacuation of Russian diplomatic staff from Syria, alongside personnel from Belarus, North Korea, and Abkhazia. While the Russian embassy in Damascus continues to operate, Moscow is actively engaging in discussions with Turkey and Iran regarding the future of Russian-Syrian relations and the presence of Russian military bases in Syria, particularly in Hmeimim and Tartus.
