Proposed handover of Bashar al-Assad to Syria

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The proposed handover of Bashar al-Assad to Syria by Russia, where he was granted asylum, [1] has become a pressing issue following the fall of his regime in Syria. [2] The Syrian transitional government has demanded his extradition so that he can be tried for crimes against humanity and potentially other charges stemming mainly from his violent crackdown on the Syrian revolution. [3]

Contents

Background

Bashar al-Assad was the president of Syria from 2000 until his overthrow on 8 December 2024. His presidency was characterized by authoritarian rule and the suppression of political dissent. His government faced mounting criticism for corruption, human rights abuses, and the violent crackdown on the 2011 protests, which eventually led to the outbreak of the Syrian Civil War. [4]

The war involved numerous international actors, with countries like Russia and Iran supporting Assad's regime, while opposition groups received backing from Western and regional powers. [5]

On 8 December 2024, after a series of offensives by the Syrian armed opposition, [6] Assad was overthrown and imposed a self-exile along with his wife in Moscow, Russia, where he was granted asylum together with his family. [1]

Handover demands

The first request from Syria for Russia to hand over Bashar al-Assad reportedly occurred in January 2025 during the first visit by a Russian delegation to Syria after the fall of the Assad regime, when the then de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa (later transitional president) reportedly made the request to the Russian officials. [7] The Kremlin refused to comment on the matter. [8]

In February 2025, in an interview with The Washington Post, Syrian Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra declined to confirm whether President Ahmed al-Sharaa had requested the extradition of Bashar al-Assad during his meeting with the Russian officials. However, he acknowledged that the issue of holding Assad accountable was discussed during the talks. [9]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Bashar al-Assad and family given asylum in Moscow, Russian media say". BBC News. 8 December 2024. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  2. ↑ Lucia Schulten (14 December 2024). "How Syria might prosecute Assad". Deutsche Welle. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  3. ↑ "New Syrian government demands compensation and extradition of Assad from Russia". UATV. 29 January 2025. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  4. ↑ "Assad regime overthrown after 53 years of repression and brutality; pivotal opportunity to establish rule of law and individual rights". Human Rights Foundation. 9 December 2024. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  5. ↑ "The foreign forces in Syria's conflict: a brief explainer". Action on Armed Violence. 6 December 2024. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  6. ↑ "12 Days That Changed Syria: The Rebel Offensive in Visuals". The New York Times. 10 December 2024. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  7. ↑ "رويترز: الشرع طالب روسيا بتسليم الأسد" [Reuters: al-Sharaa demanded Russia to hand over Assad]. Al Jazeera (in Arabic). 29 January 2025. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  8. ↑ Jochecová, Ketrin (29 January 2025). "Kremlin refuses to comment on report Syria asked for Assad to be extradited". Politico. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  9. ↑ "Syria could allow Russia to keep its bases, new defense minister says". The Washington Post. 6 February 2025. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
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