Wasn’t it F. Scott Fitzgerald who said that there are no second acts in America? But Bashar Assad is not American, and he seems to be doing quite well in his own second act, as a pampered exile in Moscow. He’s learning Russian, for obvious reasons. He’s brushing up on ophthalmology — before becoming the mass-murdering ruler of Syria, he’d been an ophthalmologist in London and Damascus, and apparently would like to return to that profession. Out of love, you understand. He doesn’t need the money; he has billions stashed away that he stole from the Syrian treasury, and with it bought Moscow luxury apartments and filled his Russian bank accounts.. His physically fetching, morally repellent wife has undergone an experimental treatment in a Russian that has apparently cured her leukemia. His daughter Zein has just graduated from MGIMO, an elite university for the sons and daughters of the Russian elite, with a degree in international relations. Perhaps she’s hoping to someday return to take a “leadership role” in a mini-state based in Latakia for Alawites.
By all reports, his family remains aloof from the Russians among whom they are now forced to live. His children have made great strides in their new language, but Bashar is reportedly having trouble with the intricacies of speaking and reading po russki.
More on the “second act” of Bashar al-Assad can be found here: “Exiled to Moscow, Assad is making a quiet return to ophthalmology for the elite – report,” by Esther Davis, Jerusalem Post, December 19, 2025
Bashar al-Assad, the former Syrian dictator who relinquished his rule in November 2024 and fled to Moscow, is now living in Russian luxury and “brushing up on ophthalmology,” the Guardian reported on Monday, citing sources close to the family.
A friend of the Assad family told the Guardian that “he is studying Russian and brushing up on his ophthalmology again. It’s a passion of his; he obviously doesn’t need the money,” suggesting his target clientele would be Moscow’s wealthy elite.
According to the Guardian, a year on from the fall of the Assad Regime in Syria, the family is living a quiet and isolated life of luxury in Moscow and the UAE. They are thought to live in Rublyovka, a gated community of the Russian elite, where former Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych, who fled Kyiv in 2014, is believed to live.
Assad was deposed after 14 years of civil war in Syria that killed over 600,000 people and displaced nearly 14 million. Despite granting Assad political asylum, Putin has little respect for the ex-dictator. A source close to the Kremlin told the Guardian that Assad was largely “irrelevant” to Putin and the Russian political elite.
What remains a puzzlement is why Putin continues to shelter Assad, whom he is said to despise. Why doesn’t he turn Assad over to the new regime in Syria, to deal with as it wishes? And in addition, he could even seize the real estate holdings in Russia that Assad owns, as well as his accounts in Russian banks. After taking a large tranche of Assad’s assets for himself, Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, Emperor of All the Russias, could turn the rest over to Ahmed al-Sharaa at the same time that Assad himself is delivered by Aeroflot to Damascus. Putin would thereby win points with Ahmed al-Sharaa, that should ensure that Russia will retain its naval base at Tartus and its airbase at Khmeimim, which are essential if Russia is to project its power into the eastern Mediterranean.
࿗Infidel࿘ says
He was doing fine as an ophthalmologist, and would probably have remained in that field had his brother not been doing 80 miles an hour on a foggy night and collided w/ a barrier. That’s what led his father, who was a formidable regional strongman, to recall him to Damascus and be the heir. His sons studied in Moscow, so it’s no surprise that they have no problems w/ Russian. Also, regardless of whether Assad needs the money, if he’s gonna service Moscow’s wealthy clientele, he had better be pretty competent at his job. Not sure what the 30-year break from the profession would have done for his skills
Honestly, Bashar al-Assad is pretty vilified in the West: he was nowhere as brutal as his dad. Essentially, under his regime, all his dad’s henchmen took over, and ran Syria as they thought fit. Under Hafez, Syria was an occupier in Lebanon, backed Hizbullah and threatened Iraq and projected power in the region. Under Bashar, the roles reversed: Syria became a playground for Russia, Iran and Hizbullah. I dare say the Arab Spring in 2011 would not have spread to Syria had Hafez been the one running things: he’d have massacred all sunnis, if needed, to keep them in check. Under Bashar, that civil war broke out
Coming back to now, I don’t think Putin can just extradite Assad to Damascus: no strongman anywhere else in the world will ever trust him, or even a post-Putin Russia, if he does. The best thing he can do is move Assad to, say, one of Russia’s muslim areas like Kazan, or better yet, send him to Azerbaijan. Then take Assad’s booty, keep the bulk for himself, and give the remnants to al-Shara’a. The HTS regime has already said, since last year, that they’ll let Russia maintain their bases in Tartus and Hmeimim, and they reserved their wrath exclusively for Iran. That’s actually great for HTS as well – having both the Trump and Putin governments be supportive of it, so that if either pulls their support, Damascus can fall back on the other
Walter Sieruk says
Bashar Assad being in Moscow as an honored quest of Vladimir Putin, It figures,. After all theyre both , have something in common . For they are both dangerous tyrannical evil men.
So taking that into account ,they both do make a fitting match , They ,indeed, do deserve each other.
WAGNER says
Is Trump’s Jolani better? I don’t think so, his lies will be exposed when one day he first signs and then breaks the agreement and destroys Israel.
Walter Sieruk says
That photograph of those hoses two evil men, Bashar Assad and Vladimir Putin, standing next to each other join their hands together is another reminder that the Bible provides the information that “Though hand join in hand the wicked shall not be unpunished.” Proverbs 11:21. [K,J,V.]
WAGNER says
Wagner defended Catholics in Syria and Mali. Putin killed Wagner’s officers and without a doubt Putin is responsible for everything that has happened to Syrian Catholics in the last year.
Jay says
Even after putting a “repent” number 2 of alqaida aljoulani and putting all the minorities under arms and under treaths, the west is not happy that the old president escaped harm. The goal was not just to destroy the state of Syria; but also to humiliate the Syrian people, through the ex president. The one the west couldn’t control. In the middle east or anywhere in the world the war is against Nationalism, identity and peoples. Most Syrian people that I know are nostalgic of the Bashar Al Asad era, where you could go out without fearing of your life. Imposing ” democracy ” with an “ex terrorist” with a suit after the result of the case of oussama binladin, is madness or stupidity or both.
Nationalism doesn’t exist fundamentally in Islam but for lots of people in middle east it does, even Muslim. How to destroy a people of a country by destroying their identity their nation and stealing resources instead of buying them.
Nationalism vs islamism, most people would prefer Nationalism. Most people hated Islam after discovering what it was through isis.
Dave says
Assad treated his minorities well
You will all see says
God willing, if Trump dies or retires, J.D. Vance will install the Kurd Abdi as leader of Syria and the minorities will be safe. Unfortunately, this is not possible with Jolani and Trump.
REZA PAHLAVI IS HERO says
The guy is dead and slaughtered, and his brother Maher is drinking in a beer in Moscow, so you can go see him. You can see it very closely and you can grab it by the fat.
This way you will be able to understand why after the death of Yevgeny Prigozhin no one defended the Syrian Christians and the jihadists were able to take control of Syria.
WAGNER says
The last to defend the Syrian and Malian Catholics was Wagner under the leadership of Prigozhin and Utkin. Has already happened in Syria, it will happen in Mali, and Christmas will soon be very sad in Mali too.
No more Prigozhin, Utkin and Wagner, because they were the heroes, not the lying thiefs, bandits and corrupt politicians Bashar al-Assad and Vladimir Putin.
OLD GUY says
Evil seeks out evil.
Alex says
Putin is a very loyal ally to those who are loyal to him and wants to maintain that reputation. If he suspects that someone is disloyal he will be unforgiving. Once you turn on a friend (useful or not) your other associates will wonder if they can count on you to the end. That is how the Saudis feel about Obama and the Dems.
You will all see says
This is the stupidity that RT and Sputnik have produced. Putin is absolute evil and is sending his soldiers to camps and the first front lines- A fake image made up of a plastic Botox face and media propaganda paid for by Russia. https://www.wsj.com/world/russia/returning-russian-pows-pay-heavy-price-for-choosing-surrender-over-death-de3376a3 Russia is pure evil and a false image of something that is not in reality. Same as Bashar al-Assad and now Jolani. Jolani is lying and when he strengthens his army he will destroy Israel. Everyone who lives for the next ten years will see this. If you die before then you will watch this from heaven or from hell if God sends you to hell for worshipping a mortal – Trump.
gravenimage says
Bashar Assad in Moscow Doing Quite Well, Thank You
…………………………………………
Yep. As I have noted, Assad was a pretty brutal dictator. But he was still better than the appalling Al Sharaa, who is now mass slaughtering Christians, Alawites, and Druze. No fan of Assad, but I’m still glad his family got out–his being assassinated in some show trial by Jihadist Al Sharaa would not have been justice.
And if Putin had not been distracted by his invasion of Ukraine, Russia would probably still be propping Assad up in Syria.
You will all see says
It would have happened anyway.Bashar al-Assad and his brother Maher stole state money for personal enrichment. They should have defended Catholics and also Kurds like their father did.He was strict but fair. As long as Bushra (sister) and Bassil (brother) were present there was no place for thiefs, Wahabbies and robbers. Erdogan destroyed Libya and caused the massacre of Libyan Christians (under Gaddafi they were at least relatively safe) and then he destroyed Syria. If Bassil al Assad were alive he would not have given part of Syria to Erdogan in 2024. Bashar al Assad gave part of Syria to Turkey in 2024. This was the beginning of the end of the BAATH and the defense of Syrian Christians and coexistence with the Kurds.
gravenimage says
As I noted, Assad was better than in Al-Sharaa. Christians have long been in danger in the Levant, save in Israel. But Syria under Assad was far safer than it is today.
You will all see says
Bashar and Maher al-Assad are responsible for all the horrors that are happening to Syrian Catholics now. They have devoured all the money that should have been allocated for the army and for the defense of the country. They will pay both in this world and in the next. God will strike them on earth and you will all be able to see their punishment.
gravenimage says
And what about Al Sharaa? Massacring Christians outright seems rather worse–or perhaps you disagree?
Natka says
Maher al-Assad knows in his gut that he has devoured the most money and that he is therefore most to blame for this disaster that has befallen Syrian Catholics.So he lets Moscow kids make fun of him and post it online.