Assad in Moscow? Russia refuses to confirm reports

The Kremlin declined on Monday to confirm reports that toppled Syrian president Bashar al-Assad had fled to Moscow, adding that it was "surprised" by the rebel takeover.

"As for Mr Assad's whereabouts, I've got nothing to tell you," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists.

A Kremlin source told Russian news agencies on Sunday that Assad and his family were in Moscow, hours after he fled the country as Islamist-led rebels entered Damascus. Assad's son has been studying in the Russian capital.


Peskov said on Monday that if Russia granted asylum to Assad and his family, this would be a decision taken by Russian President Vladimir Putin. "Of course such decisions cannot be taken without the head of state, and it's his decision," Peskov said. He added there was no meeting with Assad on Putin's agenda.

On the recent events in Syria, Peskov said: "What happened has surprised the whole world and, in this case, we are no exception."

Russia has strategically important army and naval bases in Syria, where it launched a military intervention on the side of Assad in 2015.