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The Kremlin on Monday declined to confirm reports that ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his family had fled to Moscow after opposition forces took control of Damascus.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov expressed surprise at the rapid developments and clarified that any decision regarding asylum for Assad would rest with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"As for Mr. Assad’s whereabouts, I've got nothing to tell you," Peskov told reporters. He added that if Russia were to grant asylum to Assad, such a decision would be made solely by President Putin. "Of course, such decisions cannot be taken without the head of state, and it's his decision," Peskov explained.
Russian news agencies, citing a Kremlin source, reported on Sunday that Assad and his family had arrived in Moscow after fleeing Syria. Assad's son is reportedly studying in the Russian capital.
Peskov confirmed that no meeting with Assad was scheduled on Putin's agenda. Acknowledging the impact of Assad’s fall, Peskov noted, "What happened has surprised the whole world and, in this case, we are no exception."
Russia has previously provided refuge to ousted leaders, including former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych. However, Peskov did not confirm whether a similar approach would be taken for Assad.
![A Syrian anti government fighter shoots against a large banner bearing a picture of Syria's President Bashar al-Assad, hanging on the facade of a municipal building in the west-central city of Hama on December 5, 2024. - Islamist-led rebels captured the central Syrian city of Hama on December 5, days after seizing the country's commercial hub Aleppo in a lightning offensive against President Bashar al-Assad's forces. (Photo by Bakr ALKASEM / AFP) / ?The erroneous PHOTOGRAPHER appearing in the metadata of this photo has been modified in AFP systems in the following manner: [Bakr ALKASEM] instead of [Rami AL SAYED]. Please immediately remove the erroneous mention[s] from all your online services and delete it (them) from your servers. If you have been authorized by AFP to distribute it (them) to third parties, please ensure that the same actions are carried out by them. Failure to promptly comply with these instructions will entail liability on your part for any continued or post notification usage. Therefore we thank you very much for all your attention and prompt action. We are sorry for the inconvenience this notification may cause and remain at your disposal for any further information you may require.?A portrait of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad pictured with its frame broken, on outskirts of central city of Hama, Syria, Dec. 7, 2024. (AFP Photo)A damaged portrait of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is hangs in the city of Qamishli, on December 8, 2024. (AFP Photo)An aerial picture shows members of Syria's White Helmets civil defence service clearing vehicle carcasses and rubble from a street in Aleppo on December 5, 2024. - Islamist-led rebels captured the central Syrian city of Hama on December 5, days after seizing the country's commercial hub Aleppo in a lightning offensive against President Bashar al-Assad's forces. (Photo by OMAR HAJ KADOUR / AFP)](https://img.turkiyetoday.com/images/2024/12/AFP__20241205__36PH426__v5__HighRes__CorrectionTopshotSyriaConflictHama-1600x1067.jpg)
The fall of Assad raises uncertainties about the future of Russia’s military presence in Syria, particularly its naval base in Tartus and air base at Hmeimim.
Discussions on the bases' status will be held with Syria's new rulers, Peskov stated. "It is too early to say. This is a subject for discussion with whoever is going to be in power in Syria."
He stressed the importance of securing these facilities, adding, "We are doing everything possible to get in touch with those who can provide security. Our military is also taking precautionary measures."
A Kremlin source cited by Russian news agencies claimed that the opposition forces who ousted Assad had guaranteed the safety of Russian military bases and diplomatic missions in Syria.
On Monday, the Syrian embassy in Moscow raised the opposition flag, symbolizing the shift in power. A spokesperson confirmed that the embassy was operating normally under the new administration.
Peskov highlighted the importance of maintaining dialogue with Türkiye, a key supporter of opposition forces in Syria. "It’s important to maintain dialogue with all countries. We firmly intend to do this and analyze the situation," he said.
Peskov acknowledged that Syria is entering a challenging period of instability. “Now there will be a very complex period due to instability,” he said, emphasizing the evolving nature of the situation.
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