As Syria's turmoil grows, Assad seeks refuge in Moscow
Bashar al-Assad and members of his family have arrived in Moscow. The Russian Federation has granted them asylum, according to Russian agencies TASS and RIA Novosti, which cite a source in the Kremlin.
Material updated
- President Assad of Syria has arrived in Moscow. Russia has granted asylum to him and his family on humanitarian grounds - said a source to the TASS agency.
RIA Novosti also reports that "Assad and members of his family arrived in Moscow." "Russia, on humanitarian grounds, has granted them asylum," reads the statement from RIA Novosti, which also cites a source in the Kremlin.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad left the country's capital on Sunday night (Eastern Time). He fled Damascus after opposition forces stormed the city, carrying out a rapid offensive and capturing cities such as Homs and Aleppo in about a week and a half.
