Assad, still the Kremlin’s luxurious refugee

Welcomed by Russia, Bashar al Assad, the ousted former dictator of Syria, is reportedly still living in luxury in one of Moscow's finest neighbourhoods.

Since his dramatic escape from Damascus to Moscow, the former Syrian dictator remains in Moscow, where he leads a life of luxury with his family, wife and three children. According to the Financial Times, Assad is said to have purchased flats in two 300m-high towers with 78 floors each. The report mentions 22 ultra-luxurious apartments featuring saunas, jacuzzis, and marble decorations.

Bashar al Assad lives in a private residence made up of lavish dachas and luxury shops, secluded behind highly secure, tall metal fences. They reportedly reside alongside the family of former Serbian president Slobodan Milosevic, who died in prison in 2006, as well as former Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych, who was deposed in 2014.

Bashar al-Assad is believed to have been ordered by the Kremlin to keep a low profile throughout his stay in the country, as Vladimir Putin is attempting to “forge cordial relations with the new rulers of Damascus”, who are still demanding his extradition.

(MH with Ambar - Source: Paris Match, Financial Times - Photo: © Unsplash)