Syria's overthrown president Bashar al-Assad has resumed his medical education after moving to Moscow with his family.
Modern.az reports that, according to "The Guardian" newspaper, Assad is currently attending ophthalmology classes, while also learning Russian and improving his knowledge.
According to a source in contact with the Assad family who spoke to the publication, ophthalmology is a personal interest of his and is not related to financial need. It is reported that even before the war began in Syria, Assad regularly practiced as an ophthalmologist in Damascus.
According to sources, the Assad family is currently leading a quiet, secluded, and at the same time luxurious life in Moscow and the United Arab Emirates. Two sources who spoke to "The Guardian" speculate that the family might be living in the Rublyovka area of Moscow. A source close to the family, however, told Germany's Zeit publication that the Assad family owns three apartments in the Moscow-City complex.
Nevertheless, it is emphasized that Bashar al-Assad's contacts with both the Syrian and Russian elites are quite limited. According to a family friend, he leads an extremely quiet life and hardly communicates with the outside world. Assad only interacts with a few individuals who were formerly in the presidential palace, including Syria's former Minister of Presidential Affairs Mansour Azzam and former Chief Economic Advisor Yassar Ibrahim.
"The Guardian" notes that although Assad plans to give an interview to RT television channel and a “well-known right-wing American blogger,” he is currently awaiting permission from the Russian authorities to appear in the media.
Regarding family members, according to sources, Syria's former first lady Asma al-Assad, who suffered from leukemia, has achieved remission after experimental treatment. Assad's children are noted to be “somewhat confused” and trying to adapt to life without the status of the first family. The newspaper also drew attention to a photo circulated from a graduation ceremony held at MGIMO. In that photo, Assad's daughter Zein al-Assad is seen with other graduates. It is reported that she has recently completed her education at this university.
It should be recalled that in December 2024, after armed opposition forces entered Damascus, Bashar al-Assad renounced his powers and left the country. Ahmed al-Sharaa was appointed as the interim president of Syria. He leads the “Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham” group, which played a key role in the overthrow of the Assad regime.
Bashar al-Assad and his family have received asylum in Russia. Moscow maintains diplomatic relations with the new Syrian authorities. Although the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that Assad is in a safe environment, the Kremlin has not disclosed details about his life in Russia.
