Bashar al-Assad, the ousted Syrian President who is currently in Moscow with his family after being granted asylum in Russia, is going through a personal battle after a major political one. As per reports, Bashar al-Assad’s wife Asma al-Assad, who is a British national, has filed for divorce and wishes to return to the United Kingdom with her children.
Asma is a dual British-Syrian national who was born and raised in London by Syrian parents, the BBC reported
Asma al-Assad moved to Syria in 2000 and married Assad in the same year at the age of 25.
The former First Lady of Syria has requested the Russian authorities to allow her to return to the United Kingdom for ‘urgent medical treatment’ along with her children.
According to The Jerusalem Post, Asma al-Assad’s reason for filing for divorce is that she is unhappy with her life in Moscow ever since she went there with her husband, following the Syria Civil War. Asma al-Assad’s application is being evaluated by the Russian authorities.
Although his asylum request was accepted, Bashar al-Assad is still reportedly subject to severe restrictions. He is not permitted to leave Moscow or engage in any political activities.
Russian authorities have also frozen his assets and money. His assets include 270 kilograms of gold, $2 billion, and 18 apartments in Moscow.
Assad’s family
Bashar al-Assad’s brother, Maher al-Assad, has not been granted asylum in Russia, and his request is still under review, according to the Saudi and Turkish reports. Maher and his family are under house arrest in Russia.
Assad was overthrown in early December during an offensive by rebel forces led by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). Although HTS is a registered terrorist organization by the United States, the US has decided to lift the $10 million bounty on HTS leader Abu Mohammad al-Julani’s head.
The Baath regime was in power for 61 years before Assad was ousted this month.
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