Kremlin: Reports of Asma Assad's Divorce Request are Incorrect

Russia, which has granted asylum to Bashar Assad, the ousted leader of Syria, with the approval of its president, denied reports of Asma Assad's divorce request and her return to her hometown of London. Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesperson, denied on Monday, December 24, reports published in Turkish media regarding the confinement of Bashar Assad and his wife, Asma Assad, in Russia and the seizure of their assets by order of Vladimir Putin. Mr. Peskov stated that the claims made are "not in line with reality." According to The Guardian, Russian state media have yet to publish any photos or videos of Bashar Assad and his family in the country and emphasize that Moscow wishes to keep the exiled Syrian leader away from media controversy as it is eager to establish relations with newly empowered leaders in Syria. Asma Assad, 49, was born in London to a mother who was a diplomat working at the Syrian embassy in London and a father who was a renowned heart surgeon from Homs. Ms. Asma married Bashar Assad 24 years ago, leaving her banking career in the UK, when he assumed leadership of Syria that same year. Bashar Assad had completed his ophthalmology residency in the UK but returned to Syria to take over leadership after the death of his brother, who was supposed to succeed Hafez Assad. Shortly before the onset of public protests, which turned into a civil war due to Bashar Assad's approach, Vogue magazine referred to Ms. Assad as a "rose in the desert" in 2011, without mentioning the deaths of over 5,000 civilians at that time by Bashar Assad's orders. With the start of the Syrian civil war, Vogue removed that article from circulation. Mike Pompeo, Secretary of State in Donald Trump's first administration, stated in 2020 that Asma Assad is a notorious figure in money laundering and profiting from the Syrian war. Asma's assets in the UK were frozen, but she retained her British citizenship. David Lammy, the UK Foreign Secretary, stated that Asma is a sanctioned individual and no one in the UK will welcome her. Keir Starmer, the UK Prime Minister, said it is "too early" to make a decision regarding the revocation of Asma Assad's citizenship. This is not the first time reports of Asma Assad's divorce request have emerged. During the civil war, there were long periods when she was not heard from in Syria, and some media reported her request for divorce to live with her children in Europe. However, Asma Assad was seen in Syria after a while and announced that she had breast cancer. She also appeared in public for a long time with shaved hair due to chemotherapy. This spring, it was announced again that her cancer had returned, but this time she has blood cancer. Due to travel restrictions on Asma Assad, who is recognized as a notorious figure by the international community, she spent some time in Russia for treatment this spring. Russia, which supported Assad's regime during the 13-year Syrian war, continued to bomb rebel positions until the last moments of the advance of the "Hayat Tahrir al-Sham" towards Damascus. Bashar Assad stated in a statement that after the collapse of his regime, while being transferred to the Russian base, he witnessed the abandonment of Syrian army positions and severe drone attacks on the base. He emphasized that he had "no intention of betrayal," but Russia evacuated the base and took him to Moscow. One day after the movement of the "Hayat Tahrir al-Sham" rebels from Idlib towards Aleppo began, Bashar Assad went to Moscow and talked with Vladimir Putin, but according to regional reports, he left Asma and their three children in Russia. Prior to the fall of Assad's regime, reports had emerged regarding the large assets that Bashar Assad and his wife had transferred to Russia, including the purchase of luxury residences. The Financial Times reported two weeks ago that Bashar Assad had transferred $250 million in cash, in $100 bills and €500 notes, to Russia for various reasons, including purchasing food for the people and the army, in just the last two years. The extent of the Assad family's assets in Russia is unknown, but Turkish media have claimed that Vladimir Putin has seized these assets and effectively confined Assad and his wife. On December 13, Vladimir Putin stated at an annual press conference in Moscow that he had not yet met with Bashar Assad but intended to meet "soon" and would ask him about the fate of Austin Tice, an American journalist who went missing in Syria, as Assad "certainly" has information about this.