Deposed Syrian president Bashar al-Assad is studying Russian and brushing up on his ophthalmology in Moscow, according to a family friend. The London-trained ophthalmologist fled to Russia in December 2024 after his regime collapsed, and now sits in classrooms pursuing a passion he maintained even during the war.
The Assad family are living a quiet, isolated life of luxury in Moscow's prestigious Rublyovka gated community, home to Russia's elite. They are not short of money, having transferred much of their wealth to Moscow before Western sanctions froze their assets after the 2011 crackdown on protesters.
Despite their comfortable exile, the family are cut off from former elite circles. Bashar has little contact with the outside world, only speaking to a few former palace aides. A source close to the Kremlin said President Putin regards Assad as largely irrelevant and no longer an interesting guest.
Assad fled Damascus in the early hours of 8 December 2024 as rebels approached, leaving his extended family and regime allies to fend for themselves. His brother Maher was forced to help others escape, while Bashar's uncle Rifaat's family had to sleep in cars at the Russian airbase before being rescued.
