Syria's Assad is in Russia, Putin's deputy foreign minister confirms to NBC News

Russia is providing sanctuary to Bashar al-Assad, after the swift collapse of the Syrian leader's regime, Russia’s deputy foreign minister told NBC News.

Russia is providing sanctuary to Bashar al-Assad, having transported the former Syrian leader there “in the most secure way possible” after the swift collapse of his regime, Russia’s deputy foreign minister told NBC News in an exclusive interview Tuesday.    

“He is secured, and it shows that Russia acts as required in such an extraordinary situation,” Sergei Ryabkov said, becoming the first Russian official to confirm Assad’s presence in the country.  

“I have no idea what is going on with him right now,” Ryabkov said, adding that it “would be very wrong for me to elaborate on what happened and how it was resolved.”   

Russian President Vladimir Putin has been dealt a huge blow by the collapse of a regime to which he gave his full support, helping Assad cling to power after Syria descended into civil war and maintain his family’s brutal dynasty, which began in 1971.

A rebel fighter stands in front of a defaced portrait of Bashar al-Assad in the city of Hama.Omar Haj Kadour / AFP - Getty ImagesAnd Ryabkov said Russia would continue to support the Syrian leader whose regime has been accused by human rights groups, whistleblowers and former detainees of attacks with chemical weapons and barrel bombs and other war crimes, as well as murder, systematic torture and the enforced disappearance of tens of thousands of people since the 2011 mass uprising, which sparked that conflict.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/syria-bashar-assad-russia-rebels-ryabkov-sanctuary-rcna183594

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