A day and a half after the collapse of Bashar Assad’s regime in Syria, Russia remains tight-lipped about his location. Nevertheless, senior Russian officials have already informed local media that Assad arrived in Moscow, where President Vladimir Putin has reportedly granted him and his family political asylum.
When Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov was asked about the timing of Assad’s arrival in Russia, he stated he had no comment and added that, as of now, there are no plans for Putin to meet with Assad. If Assad and his family are indeed in Moscow, they will need to adjust to a new reality, striving to maintain the level of luxury they enjoyed during their years in Syria.
Reports suggest that Bashar Assad, along with his wife, Asma, and their three children—Hafez, 24, Karim, 21, and Zain, 22—are currently in Russia. According to the British Daily Mail, the U.S. State Department estimates that Assad and Asma control a fortune worth approximately $2 billion, held in various bank accounts, shell companies, tax havens, and real estate investments worldwide. This wealth likely ensures they still have access to significant financial resources.
The Daily Mail also reported that Assad’s extended family owns at least 20 apartments in Moscow, valued at nearly $40 million in total. Additionally, Assad’s uncle, Mohammed Makhlouf, is said to have purchased 18 luxury apartments in an elite Moscow complex over the past decade, a location also home to Russian government officials and wealthy businessmen. It is possible the Assads will reside in one of these properties or in accommodations arranged by Putin.
Meanwhile, as Syrians took control of Assad’s palace in Damascus, they were exposed to the extravagant lifestyle the family led during his 24-year rule. The palace grounds revealed a fleet of luxury vehicles, and videos captured Syrian civilians and rebels looting and setting parts of the property ablaze. For years, reports have fueled global outrage over Asma Assad’s lavish spending on designer handbags and clothing while her husband waged war against his own people.
The Assad family has long been acquainted with Moscow, even if they haven’t resided there permanently. The ousted leader frequently visited to meet with Putin and other Russian officials. Assad’s eldest son, Hafez, attended university in Russia and even wrote his thesis in Russian. Just last year, Asma traveled to Moscow to attend his graduation ceremony.
However, the move to Russia is not without its challenges for the family. Aside from the disgrace of fleeing Syria, Asma Assad recently revealed that her health has taken a turn for the worse. In May, she announced a leukemia diagnosis, five years after she had overcome breast cancer—a struggle closely followed in the Arab world. She disclosed that her condition requires quarantine and may limit her public activities, raising questions about the availability of her medical treatments in Russia.
Back in Damascus, the euphoria over the regime’s downfall persists despite the daunting challenges ahead for Syria. Concerns are growing about the potential for conflict between rebel factions responsible for the coup. In Umayyad Square, jubilant Syrians gathered, waving the Free Syria flag, embracing, and celebrating. Cars passing by honked their horns, while rebels in the vicinity fired shots into the air.
“It’s indescribable, we never thought this nightmare would end, we were reborn,” said Reem Ramadan, an employee at the finance ministry who joined the celebrations. “For 55 years we were afraid to speak, even at home, we used to say that the walls have ears. Now we feel like we’re living in a dream.”
Despite the celebrations, life in Damascus has not yet returned to normal. Traffic was sparse in several neighborhoods, many shops remained shuttered, and public institutions, including schools, stayed closed. Rebel forces have positioned themselves near the central bank. “Thank God, we were liberated,” said 61-year-old Amr al-Dabbas, who also came to Umayyad Square. “Now we are waiting for things to slowly improve.”
The future of Syria remains uncertain, with no clear leader or governing structure. Currently, the most dominant force appears to be Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, a jihadist group formerly known as Jabhat al-Nusra, which was affiliated with al-Qaida in Syria. The group’s leader, Abu Muhammad al-Julani, entered Damascus on Sunday as a victorious figure after leading a series of successful campaigns against the regime. While al-Julani has attempted to present a more moderate image in recent days, Western nations remain wary, determined to prevent the emergence of an extremist Islamist regime.
On Sunday, U.S. President Joe Biden remarked that while al-Julani’s group is currently saying “the right things,” their actions, not their words, will be the ultimate test. On Monday, Germany echoed this sentiment, advising against undue optimism. A German government spokesperson emphasized the need to monitor Hayat Tahrir al-Sham closely, despite its recent efforts to distance itself from its extremist roots and build civilian governance structures.
Meanwhile, efforts continue in Saydnaya prison, located 30 kilometers north of Damascus, where families search for missing loved ones who may still be held in hidden cells. On Sunday, opponents of the Assad regime attempted to break down walls and doors, and by Monday, they were joined by the White Helmets, a humanitarian group, along with experts and sniffer dogs.
In a post on X, the White Helmets offered a $3,000 reward for information leading to the discovery of hidden cells within the prison. They promised anonymity to any former prison personnel or security officials willing to share crucial details. The organization also urged families not to search the site themselves, warning that doing so could compromise evidence needed to prosecute crimes committed by the former regime.
Saydnaya prison has long been a symbol of the Assad regime’s brutality. Described by opponents as a “human slaughterhouse,” it has housed thousands of regime critics since 2011, including armed rebels, peaceful protesters, and military personnel suspected of dissenting against Assad.
A 2017 report from Amnesty International estimated that up to 13,000 opponents of the regime were executed by hanging in Saydnaya prison between 2011 and 2015.
{Matzav.com}