On Sunday, December 8th, the rapid downfall of the Assad regime in Syria has shocked the world. The whereabouts of the entire Assad family have attracted attention, with several Russian media outlets quoting sources revealing that Assad has already arrived in Moscow.
Russian official media, TASS news agency, cited Kremlin sources as saying, “Assad and his family have arrived in Moscow, and for humanitarian reasons, Russia has granted them asylum.”
The international news agency, Interfax, also learned from sources that the Assad family has arrived in Moscow and has been granted asylum.
Earlier on Sunday, the Russian Foreign Ministry released a statement announcing that President Assad has left Syria. The statement mentioned that Assad has decided to resign and leave the country, instructing a peaceful transfer of power. The Russian Foreign Ministry emphasized that Russia was not involved in these negotiations and that they are in contact with all opposition groups in Syria.
However, the statement did not specify the country Assad had fled to, nor did it reveal whether Russia provided him with asylum.
On Sunday, Syrian opposition forces seized more prison cells in the notorious Saydnaya prison, releasing more prisoners from inhumane conditions. Over the past 11 days, the anti-government forces have launched their most audacious challenge to Assad’s rule in years, culminating in the capture of the capital, Damascus, on Sunday, marking an end to the Assad dynasty’s iron-fisted rule. Assad’s brutal regime has been characterized by warfare, bloodshed, and oppressive political repression.
Firas Maksad, a senior researcher at the Middle East Institute based in Washington D.C., told CNN on Sunday that “this is a critical moment, not only for the Syrian people but also for the people of the Middle East, whether they are Lebanese, Palestinians, Syrians, or others.”
“For over 50 years, this regime has oppressed, persecuted, and made millions of Syrians disappear under the guise of freedom, unity, and socialism,” Maksad added.