Amid the political crisis in Syria, Russia has granted asylum to ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his family, TASS reported citing a Kremlin source. Assad had reportedly fled the country yesterday.
The situation in Syria remains a focal point for neighboring countries after Syrian rebels entered the capital, Damascus, on Sunday, forcing President Assad to flee and ending his over two-decade rule.
Sources have confirmed that Assad and his family have arrived in Moscow, where Russia has granted them asylum for “humanitarian reasons.”
“Russia has always spoken in favour of a political settlement of the Syrian crisis. We insist that the UN-mediated talks be resumed,” the source stated, according to Russian news agency TASS.
“Russian officials are in contact with representatives of the armed Syrian opposition, whose leaders have assured the safety of Russian military bases and diplomatic missions on Syrian territory,” the source added.
Russian Military Bases In Syria On High Alert
Notably, the Russian Foreign Ministry on Sunday had expressed extreme concern over the events unfolding in Syria and appealed to all parties involved in the negotiations with a strong call to renounce violence and resolve all issues by political means.
Russia’s MFA wrote on X, “We are monitoring the dramatic developments in Syria with extreme concern. We urge all parties to respect the opinions of all ethnic and religious groups in Syrian society. Russian military bases in Syria are on high alert.”
Further, the ministry had stated that Bashar al-Assad has stepped down and left the country giving instructions to transfer power peacefully.
“We are following the dramatic events in Syria with extreme concern. As a result of negotiations between B Assad and a number of participants in the armed conflict in the SAR, he decided to leave the presidential post and left the country, giving instructions to transfer power peacefully. Russia did not participate in these negotiations. At the same time, we appeal to all parties involved with a strong call to renounce the use of violence and resolve all governance issues by political means,” Russian Foreign Ministry said.
Notably, the civil war in the country that had remained dormant for a few years resurfaced and within a span of a few weeks. Syrian rebels claimed to have entered the strategic city of Homs on Sunday. Hours after they declared full control of Homs and continued to march to Damascus, intense shooting sounds were reportedly heard. News Agency Reuters stated that the origin of the shooting remains unclear, two of the residents who live close to the capital area said.
