Assad's asylum in Russia sparks citizenship debate
Russian MP Alexei Zhuravlyov has proposed that Bashar al-Assad be granted Russian citizenship. Let us recall that the former President of Syria is currently in hiding in Russia.
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The former President of Syria, Bashar al-Assad, who has obtained asylum in Russia, could be granted Russian citizenship. This proposal was made by Alexei Zhuravlyov, the chairman of the State Duma's defence committee.
- Russia treats its allies humanely, unlike the USA, which quickly abandons former friends. Hence, if Yanukovych acquired citizenship, why should Assad not receive it? - said Zhuravlyov, quoted by "Abzac".
Relatives and associates of Assad own flats in Moscow
According to the "Financial Times", relatives and associates of Assad acquired at least 19 flats in Moscow in 2019, valued at approximately £33 million. Assad's brother, Hafez Makhlouf, owns 13 of them, while the wife of Assad's cousin, Rami Makhlouf, has two flats.
The remaining four belong to cousins of the former President, with the properties registered to offshore companies.
Bashar al-Assad overthrown
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad left the country's capital on Sunday night. He fled Damascus after opposition forces launched a rapid offensive, capturing cities such as Homs and Aleppo in just over a week.
It was Russia that first confirmed that Assad, "after negotiations with many participants in the Syrian conflict, left the office of the President of Syria and issued instructions for the peaceful transfer of power". The statement emphasised that Russia did not participate in these discussions.
Source: "The Moscow Times", WP Wiadomości
