The erstwhile Syrian leader resides in sumptuous residences, indulges in digital gaming, and has gone back to practicing medicine – details that have surfaced regarding his life in Russia.
Bashar al-Assad / © Associated Press
The previous Syrian strongman, Bashar al-Assad, to whom Russia provided sanctuary subsequent to the collapse of his government, currently leads a secluded and extravagant existence in Moscow. As reported by Western outlets, he fills much of his time with electronic games, studying the Russian language, and reacquainting himself with his skills as an eye doctor.
This information can be found within an article published in the Daily Mail.
Having departed Syria in December, following a rapid assault by the Islamist organization Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which put an end to Assad's 24 years in power and his family's decades-long reign, the ex-president has established himself in the affluent Moscow City precinct. Insiders reveal the Assad kin controls about 20 condos in the upscale skyscraper, totaling over £30 million in market value.
Media descriptions portray the apartments as lavish: featuring cream-colored furnishings highlighted with gold trim, shimmering chandeliers, expansive hallways, and lavatories finished with Carrara marble. The rooftop apartment boasts unobstructed views of Moscow and a sizable heated jacuzzi enabling, as per estate agents, the observation of the holiday firework display on May 9.
According to information, notably shared by The Guardian, Assad has recommenced his studies in ophthalmology, an area he had pursued in London during the 1990s. A source intimate with the family maintains that medicine constitutes his genuine enthusiasm and that monetary resources are of no consequence to him.
“He is learning Russian and brushing up on his expertise in ophthalmology. Wealth holds no significance for him,” a family confidant communicated to journalists.
While Assad has the liberty to navigate Moscow and visit a country estate, he is under the safeguard of a private protection detail funded by the Russian government and maintains limited interaction with those beyond. According to sources, his circle of acquaintance is limited to only a handful of previous allies.
Contemporaneously, news outlets suggest the Kremlin harbors a tepid sentiment toward the ousted head of state. Russian President Vladimir Putin is said to be hesitant about backing leaders who have been deposed from their positions of authority, and Assad is no longer regarded as a noteworthy political figure.
Currently, Assad resides alongside his spouse, Asma, who is contending with leukemia, and their three offspring. Asma, originally from London, received medical care in Moscow leading up to the fall of the regime. In spite of her grave condition, the family persists in maintaining their habitual level of luxury.
Russian authorities have refuted prior claims about a potential poisoning attempt on Assad. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov affirmed that the former Syrian leader remains within Russia “for benevolent reasons” and faces no difficulties residing within the capital.
Simultaneously, Syrian informants emphasize that the extravagant lifestyle of the Assad family in Moscow stands in stark contrast to the destiny of millions of Syrians who endured strife and oppression throughout his period in command.
Source: tsn.ua