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
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    18 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
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      18 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
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        18 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
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      18 days ago

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

    • Hubi@feddit.org
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      18 days ago

      The only way to know for sure will be if he actually shows up on camera in the next couple of weeks. If not, he’s probably dead.

    • Skullgrid@lemmy.world
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      18 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
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        18 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
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          18 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
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            18 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
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              18 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
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                18 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
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    18 days ago

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