Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated in an interview with Turkish media that the newly formed government in Syria is no longer considering the prosecution of former President Bashar al-Assad.
Operative Information Center-OMM reports that, according to Lavrov, the issue of bringing the former leader to justice has not been raised for a significant period. The minister noted that the Syrian side is fully aware of the circumstances surrounding the arrival of President Assad and his family in the Russian Federation in December 2024.
Lavrov emphasized that at the time of his departure, Syria was embroiled in full-scale warfare, characterized by intensive urban combat and extreme instability. He underlined that Bashar al-Assad faced an immediate and serious threat to his life, and for this reason, Russia granted him asylum strictly on humanitarian grounds.
The transition of power in Syria followed a rapid offensive by opposition forces that led to the collapse of the long-standing administration in Damascus. Since the change in leadership, the international community has been closely monitoring the formation of the new government and its stance on previous officials. Russia, which maintained a significant military and political presence in Syria for over a decade, continues to play a role in regional diplomacy while hosting the former president in exile.
