Bashar Al-Assad's wife Asma has blood cancer and wants to divorce him and return to UK for treatment

Asma al-Assad fled to Moscow weeks before her dictator husband so she could undergo medical treatment. It is believed she may use her illness as an excuse to return to the UK. According to reports, when the Syrian regime collapsed, Bashar al-Assad's British wife fled to Moscow weeks before her husband to receive cancer treatment.

After being diagnosed with leukaemia earlier this year, Asma al-Assad travelled to the Russian capital to receive treatment alongside her parents, as reported by the Daily Mail.

The former First Lady 'has been there for several weeks', seeking medical assistance, according to sources familiar with the escape who spoke to the Financial Times. The 49-year-old is reportedly looking to leave Russia because her health condition cannot be adequately monitored in Moscow, according to Turkish media.


This week, there were rumours that Ms. Assad might now be pursuing a divorce from her 24-year partner as a precondition for going back to London because a return cannot be based solely on health reasons.

Since the Syrian capital fell on December 8, Ms. Assad and her husband have been living in exile in Moscow. The Kremlin swiftly denied reports by Turkish publication Haberturk that she wants to leave her husband and leave Russia in order to return to the United Kingdom.

However, analysts have expressed concerns about her safety in Moscow, calling her life there a golden cage controlled by President Vladimir Putin.

Despite having British citizenship, Ms. Assad remains bound by sanctions, which No10 confirmed yesterday would block her from being able to return to the UK.

While Russian authorities are now reportedly considering her application to leave, the Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, has insisted she is 'not welcome here in the UK' due to sanctions.

Assad himself is said to have been restricted to living in Moscow, where the family reportedly own at least 18 luxury flats and cannot travel the country. His assets and money in the country are now said to have been frozen.

FAQs

Why did Asma al-Assad leave Syria for Moscow?
After Damascus fell, Asma al-Assad fled to Moscow to receive treatment for acute myeloid leukaemia before rejoining her parents.

Does Asma al-Assad intend to return to the UK?
According to reports, she intends to divorce and return to the UK for better medical care, but sanctions prevent her from doing so.