Where Is Bashar al-Assad? Syrian Leader And Family Granted Asylum In Moscow, Says Report

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his family have reportedly received asylum in Moscow. This comes after Russian Foreign Ministry announced Assad's resignation and departure from Syria.

File Photo of ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad

Source : X/@Presidency_Sy

Syria's Bashar al-Assad and his family are in the Russian capital Moscow and they have been granted asylum, news agency TASS reported citing Kremlin sources. News agency Interfax also quoted an unnamed source as saying, "President Assad of Syria has arrived in Moscow. Russia has granted them (him and his family) asylum on humanitarian grounds."

Russia Announces Bashar al-Assad's Resignation As Syrian President, Confirms He Left Country

This comes after the Russian foreign ministry announced on Sunday that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad had stepped down from office and left the country after issuing orders for a peaceful transfer of power. The ministry did not disclose Assad’s current whereabouts and stated that Russia had not been involved in the negotiations surrounding his departure.

"As a result of negotiations between B. Assad and a number of participants in the armed conflict on the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic, he decided to resign from the presidency and left the country, giving instructions for a peaceful transfer of power. Russia did not participate in these negotiations," the ministry stated.

Expressing deep concern about the unfolding events in Syria, Moscow urged all parties involved to refrain from violence and resolve governance issues through peaceful means. The statement emphasised Russia’s commitment to dialogue and engagement with the Syrian opposition.

"We urge all parties involved to refrain from the use of violence and to resolve all issues of governance through political means," the statement said. "In that regard, the Russian Federation is in contact with all groups of the Syrian opposition."

In response to the situation, Russia has placed its military bases in Syria on a state of heightened alert, but there is currently no indication of any imminent threat to these facilities, the ministry mentioned.