MOSCOW — Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his family have arrived in Moscow and been granted asylum by Russian authorities, Russian news agencies reported on Sunday, citing a Kremlin source.
“President Assad of Syria has arrived in Moscow. Russia has granted them [him and his family] asylum on humanitarian grounds,” the unnamed source told Interfax, a Russian news agency.
The move marks a significant development following the collapse of Assad’s government in Syria, raising questions about Russia’s role in the region after years of backing the regime militarily and diplomatically.
Russia’s decision to grant asylum underscores the deep ties between Moscow and Assad, who has relied on Russian support to maintain his rule through years of civil war. The Kremlin has yet to issue an official statement on Assad’s arrival or the conditions of his asylum.
