The former Syrian president Bashar Al-Assad reportedly survived an assassination attempt in Russia, where he sought political asylum following his removal from power 10 months ago.
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Assad was discharged from a hospital on the outskirts of Moscow after allegedly being poisoned. The motive behind the assassination attempt was speculated to be aimed at discrediting the Russian government and implicating its involvement in his potential demise.
Reportedly, only Assad’s brother Maher Assad was permitted to visit him in the hospital under tight security measures. The latest update indicates that Assad’s condition is now stable, with no official comments from the Russian government on the incident yet.
The current administration in Syria has been pressing for Assad’s extradition, which Russia has consistently declined. President Putin personally granted asylum to Assad, his family members, and key regime figures. Assad, aged 60, has not made any public appearances since his arrival in Russia and is believed to be closely monitored by Russian intelligence services.
There is no concrete evidence supporting the claim of Assad’s poisoning. Earlier reports mentioned Assad expressing health concerns to his security team shortly after his arrival in Russia, but the veracity of this account remains unconfirmed.