Bashar Assad, the recently ousted Syrian leader, made his first public remarks on Monday since his regime was overthrown by rebel groups and his subsequent relocation to Russia over a week ago.

In his statement, Assad asserted that he never intended to escape to Russia and expressed his desire to continue fighting rebel factions. However, he eventually complied with Russia’s request to evacuate after the military base he was hiding in—typically a Russian installation—was attacked by drones. He shared these claims via the Syrian presidency’s Telegram channel.

“I never thought about resigning or seeking refuge,” he stated, although it’s unclear who manages the account or if he authored the message himself. Assad mentioned that he arrived at the Russian military base in Latakia province to “supervise combat operations,” yet found Syrian troops abandoning the location upon his arrival.

Assad governed Syria for 24 years, following nearly three decades of leadership by his late father, Hafez. The Assad family maintained strict control over the country, imprisoning anyone who dared to challenge their authority. In the present day, much of Syria is dominated by the insurgent group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS.

Russia has granted asylum to the Assad family. Their unexpected exit raises numerous questions about Syria’s future, the millions displaced due to Assad’s actions, the family’s riches, governmental corruption, and their potential activities in Russia.

What is the Assad family’s financial status?

The U.S. State Department estimates the Assad family’s wealth to be around $2 billion, hidden across various accounts, real estate, businesses, and offshore financial centers.

It remains uncertain how much of this wealth they can access from Russia.

According to reports from the Financial Times, during the ongoing civil war, the family acquired numerous luxury apartments in Moscow’s upscale City of Capitals district. The British publication further mentioned that the Assads transported $250 million to Russia over the last two years.

Ayman Abdel Nour, a former college friend of Assad and editor-in-chief of All4Syria, a prominent independent news platform, revealed that Assad used a series of private flights to transfer money and valuables to Russia just before he left for Moscow.

“He has hidden funds under many names,” stated Nour. “That’s why he brought his financier, Yasser Ibrahim, with him to Moscow. He knows all the necessary codes and passwords for the banking accounts.”

Syria is the leading producer of Captagon, a synthetic stimulant popular in the Middle East, and analysts suggest that the Assad regime generated billions annually from this trade.

Who is Asma Assad, Bashar’s wife?

Asma Assad, 49, originally named Asma Fawaz Akhras, was born in London.

Her father practiced cardiology, while her mother served as a diplomat at the Syrian embassy. She first met Assad on a family vacation in Syria and later reconnected with him during his medical studies in England.

Initially, Asma was often compared to Princess Diana for her glamour and sophistication. She was smart too, having studied computer science and later thriving in London’s investment banking sector. After marrying Assad and becoming the First Lady of Syria, she aimed to reshape Syria’s image with her management and analytical skills.

Asma envisioned a nation with more entrepreneurs, engaged citizens, and progress. She was involved in various initiatives, including projects promoting digital literacy among children and preserving cultural heritage.

“It’s about everyone taking shared responsibility to advance this country; we all have a role to play in its future,” she stated in a now-discredited Vogue article published in 2011, titled “A Rose in the Desert.”

Vogue later withdrew the article from its website following backlash for seemingly ignoring the severe human rights violations carried out by the Syrian government, including chemical weapon attacks on civilians, while highlighting the First Lady’s extravagant preferences for designer high heels.

After thirteen years, the Assad family sought refuge in Moscow following the downfall of their regime due to rebel forces. Asma Assad, the dictator’s wife, departed Syria bearing a reputation reminiscent of Marie Antoinette—a French queen who epitomized extravagance and instigated the unrest that led to the French Revolution.

A decade prior, The Guardian released what were claimed to be private emails exchanged between the Assads, revealing that Syria’s First Lady indulged in extravagant spending on luxury goods while her husband bombarded Syrians with barrel bombs from helicopters and resorted to using toxic gases like chlorine, sarin, and mustard gas. Simultaneously, numerous opponents of Assad were unaccounted for, as many faced torture or execution in prisons.

Among Asma Assad’s extravagant purchases were chandeliers, candlesticks, and crystal-studded shoes valued at hundreds of thousands of dollars. Journalists investigating the couple’s abandoned residence in Damascus found numerous boxes filled with jewelry, antiques, and designer merchandise. Assad had also amassed a collection of luxury vehicles in a garage.

In 2018, Asma Assad was diagnosed with breast cancer, and this year she announced her battle with leukemia. The couple’s three children, all young adults, are believed to be in Russia with them. Recently, their son, Hafez Jr., successfully completed his doctoral dissertation in mathematics at Moscow State University.

What lies ahead for the Assads in Russia?

The Russian foreign ministry has granted the Assad family asylum for “humanitarian reasons,” a significant distinction from political asylum, which typically offers longer-term security.

Nesrin Alrefaai, a Syrian visiting fellow at the London School of Economics and Political Science, suggested this decision may provide Russia with flexibility to change its stance toward the Assads later. “At the end of the day, Russia prioritizes its own interests,” she stated. “Giving them humanitarian asylum rather than political asylum allows them to reconsider their support if necessary. I know there are Syrians currently compiling evidence to hold Assad accountable at the Hague,” she noted, referencing the international war crimes tribunal in The Netherlands. “Lawyers are gathering evidence, aiming to freeze his assets and bring him to trial.”

The British government reported that it has not been approached by Asma Assad regarding a return to the U.K.

Alrefaai speculated that Assad is likely in a “state of shock” due to his rapid ousting, following a swift assault by anti-Assad forces throughout the country. “I don’t believe leaving Syria was his original plan; he likely relied on Russian support to maintain his power. This all unfolded very unexpectedly,” she explained.

Even if he wished to act, Alrefaai argued it would be challenging for Assad or his younger brother Maher, a senior military commander in Syria implicated in various crimes, to reclaim Syria without substantial backing from Russia and Iran-supported Hezbollah fighters. Maher Assad is thought to have reached Russia via Iraq.

“I doubt his loyal supporters have the strength to confront the rest of Syria,” Alrefaai remarked.

Syria: focusing on priorities

Majd Jadaan has had long ties to the Assad family, ties she wishes she could sever. Her sister, Manal, is married to Maher Assad, Bashar’s sibling. Although the couple is separated, they have not officially divorced. Jadaan stated her family always opposed the marriage, but events changed after her father’s death when Maher Assad influenced her sister against their family.

As the conflict with Syria’s most influential family escalated, Jadaan was compelled to seek asylum.

Living in the U.S. for over a decade, Jadaan indicated that her sister and children are currently safe in another Middle Eastern country, where she plans to reunite with them after 14 years apart.

She opted not to disclose the name of this country for security purposes.

Now an American citizen, Jadaan expressed her desire to return to Damascus within weeks. “I aim to help unite the Syrian people,” she stated. “Our efforts will focus on rebuilding Syria,” she added.

“Many people are unaware of the resilience and creativity of the Syrian people. We leave our mark wherever we go,” she shared, highlighting Germany’s concerns about a potential wave of Syrian medical professionals who fled during the 14-year civil conflict, while Turkey appears apprehensive about losing Syrian entrepreneurs returning home.

“Syrians are survivors; that’s a definite truth. They are strong. We will overcome all obstacles,” she concluded.