Deposed Syrian President Bashat al-Assad and his family has been given political asylum in Russia, said multiple reports in Russian media. Assad fled Syria on Sunday (December 8) after rebel forces fighting against his government forces gained entry in Damascus following a week of dramatic and lightning offensive. Assad has avoided public glare so far and has not issued a direct statement.
Russian news agency TASS has reported citing Kremlin sources that Assad and his family have been granted political asylum in the country.
“Russia has always spoken in favour of a political settlement of the Syrian crisis. We insist that the UN-mediated talks be resumed,” TASS quoted the source as saying.
“Russian officials are in touch with representatives of armed Syrian opposition, whose leaders have guaranteed security of Russian military bases and diplomatic missions on the Syrian territory,” said the source further.
At the time of publishing of this story, there wasn’t any official announcement from the Russian government.
Rebel forces of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) are currently in control of Damascus.
The Assad regime has for over a decade, got strong backing from Russia and Iran while a faction of rebels enjoys support from the US. Russia even maintains military and naval bases on Syrian territory.
On December 8, when Assad escaped from Syrian capital Damascus, the plane believed to be carrying him first travelled westwards before taking an abrupt U-turn and heading in the direction of Moscow.
But the plane went off-radar after the U-turn, leading many to speculate that it has been shot down by the rebels. However, the plane going off-radar may also have been due to the pilot turning off the transponders.
‘Historic Victory’
Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, the leader of rebel group HTS which captured Damascus delivered an address near a mosque.
“This victory, my brothers, is historic for the region,” said Jolani.
“Today, Syria is being purified,” he said, adding that “this victory is born from the people who have languished in prison, and the mujahideen (fighters) broke their chains”.
He however ordered his forces to not approach government buildings which the rebels said would remain under the supervision of Syrian PM Mohammad Jalali until their official handover. Jalali is still in Damascus and on December 8, promised support to the rebels as they captured the capital.
