Kremlin Dismisses Reports of Asma al-Assad Seeking Divorce and Return to London

 

The Kremlin has refuted claims originating from Turkish media that Asma al-Assad, the British-born wife of deposed Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad, is pursuing a divorce and planning a return to the UK.

The reports surfaced following Bashar al-Assad’s recent escape to Moscow earlier this month. His departure occurred after a swift rebel offensive brought an abrupt end to the Assad family’s five-decade rule in Syria. To avoid detection, the transponder on his aircraft was reportedly switched off during the flight.

In a statement shared via Telegram, Assad claimed that his relocation was unplanned, describing it as a forced move due to intensified drone strikes targeting his position at a Russian-controlled airbase.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov rejected the rumors, including allegations that Assad’s assets had been frozen and that he was confined in Moscow. “No, they do not correspond to reality,” Peskov asserted during a press conference.

Despite these denials, Russian state media have refrained from releasing images of Bashar al-Assad in the country, suggesting Moscow’s intent to maintain a low profile for the ousted leader as it navigates its relationship with Syria’s new government.

Asma al-Assad, born in 1975 in west London to Syrian parents, left her career in investment banking in 2000 to marry Bashar al-Assad. Her public image, initially celebrated in profiles like Vogue’s infamous “A Rose in the Desert”, has become divisive. Critics accuse her of leveraging her British education and polished demeanor to obscure the regime’s harsh repression.

The United States imposed sanctions on her and other family members in 2020. Then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo described her as a key figure in enabling the regime’s brutal policies, labeling her one of Syria’s most infamous war profiteers.

Asma retains British citizenship, although her UK assets were frozen in 2012. The UK government has since made it clear that she is unwelcome. Foreign Secretary David Lammy recently affirmed in parliament that Asma remains a sanctioned individual barred from entering the country.

Questions about stripping Asma of her British citizenship have also arisen, mirroring measures taken against individuals affiliated with extremist groups like ISIS. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, however, stated it was “far too early” to make such a determination.

As the Assad family faces an uncertain future in exile, their fall from power marks the end of an era while reigniting debates about accountability and justice for Syria’s war-torn population.