Kathrine Frich
Bashar al Assad, born in Damascus in 1965, ruled Syria for more than two decades after succeeding his father, Hafez al Assad, in 2000.
His presidency became synonymous with repression, a devastating civil war and international isolation.
As Syria’s old order collapsed around him, the leader once portrayed as untouchable was forced into hiding.
One year after his dramatic removal from power, new reports describe the unusual life he now leads on Russian soil.
Extraction from a collapsing regime
Assad’s escape from Syria was carried out under direct Kremlin supervision, according to reporting by The Sun.
The Russian president personally approved the operation, which took place in December last year.
Assad had fled on a Russian military aircraft at the last moment, aware that arrest or execution awaited him at home.
Images released at the time showed him arriving in Moscow in a dark coat and blue scarf.
The Sun reported that his journey may have involved decoy helicopters and body doubles intended to confuse adversaries as his rule crumbled.
Putin then extended asylum to Assad, his relatives and several senior figures from his inner circle.
The family is known to have amassed dozens of luxury properties in Moscow City, a financial district dominated by high rise towers.
These were reportedly acquired using funds moved out of Syria prior to Assad’s ouster.
Life behind Russian security cordons
Sources cited by The Sun say Assad now divides his time between a penthouse and a secluded site described informally as a warlord retirement village.
One intelligence source said Assad lives “in luxury” within a complex protected by Russian authorities.
The same source suggested he might be housed in one of several government compounds under the Federal Protection Service.
One such compound is located in the Sparrow Hills district.
The source explained: “This is the kind of place where Assad could be held entirely safely guarded by the FSO and in luxury.”
Residents reportedly include senior Russian military and political figures who rely on Putin’s approval for continued access.
“There are others outside Moscow, but this one only houses people personally approved by Putin and they live here or get kicked out based on his patronage,” the source said.
A controlled life under watch
Assad’s daily routine is described as quiet and heavily restricted. Reports claim he spends long stretches playing video games in a penthouse located in a 99 foot tower.
Dachas in the same area have historically hosted Soviet officials as well as visiting foreign leaders, including Fidel Castro and, at times, Assad’s father.
Russian security services have been tasked with ensuring Assad’s safety, particularly from the new Syrian authorities who want him extradited.
Despite extensive surveillance networks across Moscow, a former KGB officer told The Sun that the district remains “too public” to guarantee full security, even if Assad alternates between the city residence and a possible rural estate.
Investigations by Agentsvo reported that tenants of the so called secret village include General Valery Gerasimov and former defence minister Sergei Shoigu.
The site is also known to host properties owned by oligarch Roman Abramovich.
Health scares and disinformation
In October, Assad was reportedly taken to a hospital in Moscow following a suspected poisoning.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights cited a “private source” who believed there was an effort “to embarrass the Russian government and accuse it of being complicit” in his death.
It was not the first time such allegations had surfaced.
Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov dismissed the rumours outright. He said: “He has no problems living in our capital.” Shortly afterwards, a video circulated online appearing to show
Assad walking with a young woman in Red Square. The clip was later confirmed to be AI generated.
Putin has reportedly ordered a strict blackout on personal details concerning Assad and his wife, Asma, who was born in London and is undergoing treatment for cancer.
No information has been released about the timing or location of any meeting between Putin and Assad.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov commented: “We cannot share any information on this matter.”
Hafez Assad recounts the escape
Assad’s son Hafez, 24, recently offered a detailed account of the family’s exit from Syria.
He said: “There was never a plan not even a backup to leave Damascus, let alone Syria.”
Hafez explained that his mother had already travelled to Moscow for a bone marrow transplant late in the summer.
After rumours circulated that the family had fled, he tried to counter speculation.
“In response, I took a picture at Al Nairabain Park in Al Muhajireen neighbourhood and shared it on my private Instagram account,” he said.
He recalled a tense night when events changed rapidly.
“Until then, despite the distant sounds of shelling, nothing seemed unusual just the familiar reality we had grown accustomed to since the early years of the war.”
That shifted when a Russian official arrived after midnight.
Hafez rejected claims that the family left without notifying relatives.
“I was the one who called them multiple times as soon as we knew we were relocating,” he said.
The family departed for Damascus airport at 3 am, which he described as “deserted.”
The final flight
According to Hafez, they boarded a Russian military plane to Latakia before attempting to reach the presidential residence.
Communication lines were down, and he said all attempts to contact the military leadership failed. Front line troops were withdrawing, and drone attacks had begun.
Escape by ground was no longer possible.
Hafez recounted being told that “the situation had descended into chaos, and all contact with the military leadership had been lost.”
After consultation with Moscow, they were informed that their transfer to Russia had been authorised.
“Some time later, we boarded a Russian military plane bound for Moscow, where we landed that same night.”
Security analyst Will Geddes told The Sun that Assad likely had contingency plans for extraction.
He said: “President Assad would have, no doubt, had an emergency extraction plan already in play this would have been planned for many, many years.”
He added that rebels may have been distracted using subterfuge such as convoys carrying body doubles.
Syria’s new interim president Ahmed al Sharaa has stated publicly that he requested Assad’s extradition during discussions with Putin.
He said: “The Russians have a different opinion. However, justice must prevail.”
Sources: The Sun, Agentsvo, Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
