The Russian agencies, Tass and RIA, cited an unidentified Kremlin source on Assad and his family being given asylum in Moscow, his longtime ally and protector. The Associated Press was not immediately able to verify the reports but contacted the Kremlin for comment.

RIA also said Moscow had received guarantees from Syrian insurgents of the security of Russian military bases and diplomatic posts in Syria.

Assad reportedly left Syria early Sunday, and Syrians have been pouring into streets echoing with celebratory gunfire after a stunning rebel advance reached the capital, ending the Assad family’s 50 years of iron rule.

  • PugJesus@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    40
    arrow-down
    2
    ·
    7 days ago

    Hope they mix up his tea. Or even better, Assad can be a bad luck charm and bring the Russian regime down too!

    • jaybone@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      2
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      6 days ago

      Yeah I’m surprised by this. Seems like Putin wouldn’t want to associate himself with a loser.

      I figured he’d go to South America or something.

      • Danquebec@sh.itjust.works
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        2
        ·
        6 days ago

        I expect he may be used for counseling in matters of security, intelligence, ir as a general on the front, or as an officer responsible for crushing dissent. Or as Putin’s ophtalmologist.

    • nonailsleft@lemm.ee
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      10
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      edit-2
      6 days ago

      Put him in command of the North Koreans with a bad translator and turn it into a reality tv show pls

  • BlesthThySoul@lemy.lol
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    18
    arrow-down
    2
    ·
    7 days ago

    Assad reportedly left Syria early Sunday, and Syrians have been pouring into streets echoing with celebratory gunfire after a stunning rebel advance reached the capital, ending the Assad family’s 50 years of iron rule.

    Assad is safe and sound in Russia.

    The news about the plane crash that left Damascus. Who would have been in it then?

    [details of Assad flight]

    (https://x.com/Dr_Moustou/status/1865626407251980729)

    • Skullgrid@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      25
      ·
      7 days ago

      Doesn’t say if he actually made it to Russia.

      Russian state news agencies say ousted Syrian leader Bashar Assad is in Moscow and given asylum

      I mean, maybe they’re lying, but it’s in the headline

      • deadcream@sopuli.xyz
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        7 days ago

        What would be the point? He is only useful if they can parade him around praising Putin and whatever.

        • borari@lemmy.dbzer0.com
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          4
          ·
          edit-2
          7 days ago

          Israel could have shot down the plane to kill him, rebels could have shot it down as it flew overhead, it could have just crashed, or the transponder could have just gone fucky then been turned off en route to Russia. If Assad was on that plane and got splatted, it doesn’t have to be Russia doing the splatting.

          • deadcream@sopuli.xyz
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            2
            ·
            7 days ago

            What I meant is why would Russia lie about it? Claiming that he is in Moscow without being able to present him to the press doesn’t make any sense.

            • borari@lemmy.dbzer0.com
              link
              fedilink
              English
              arrow-up
              1
              ·
              7 days ago

              Ah yeah, I totally misunderstood you. You’re right though, it is weird. Why would Russia lie about it, but also why wouldn’t they present him from the outset?

              • Saleh@feddit.org
                link
                fedilink
                English
                arrow-up
                4
                ·
                6 days ago

                Potential reasons to lie about it: Russia helps propping up all sorts of regimes around the world. So to reassure them having Russia as emergency destination is useful. Also the idea that ousted dictators can be killed by their people is not in Putins interest.

                Potential reasons not to present him yet: Assad surely will not look presentable right now, having fled the country on a whim. See first point. Also Russia wants to negotiate with the following governmemt to keep its military bases. Having pictures of Assad waving into the camera as he steps out of his plane in Moscow would make the Syrian public more hostile towards that.

  • ma1w4re@lemm.ee
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    1
    arrow-down
    14
    ·
    7 days ago

    Ohh come on. Your mixing shit up, it’s not “Russia”, it’s “Communist Russia”.