Proposed handover of Bashar al-Assad to Syria
{{Short description|Proposed extradition of former president of Syria from Russia}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}
File:Vladimir Putin and Bashar al-Assad (2017-11-21) 02.jpg with Vladimir Putin in 2017]]
The proposed handover of Bashar al-Assad to Syria from Russia, where al-Assad was granted asylum,{{cite news |title=Bashar al-Assad and family given asylum in Moscow, Russian media say |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cqx89reeevgo |work=BBC News |date=8 December 2024 |access-date=13 February 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250412154446/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cqx89reeevgo |archive-date=12 April 2025 |url-status=live}} has become a pressing issue following the fall of his regime in Syria.{{cite news |title=How Syria might prosecute Assad |url=https://www.dw.com/en/how-syria-might-prosecute-assad/a-71058694 |author=Lucia Schulten |work=Deutsche Welle |date=14 December 2024 |access-date=13 February 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20241216090409/https://www.dw.com/en/how-syria-might-prosecute-assad/a-71058694 |archive-date=16 December 2024 |url-status=live}} The Syrian caretaker government, and later the transitional government, 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.{{cite news |title=New Syrian government demands compensation and extradition of Assad from Russia |url=https://uatv.ua/en/new-syrian-government-demands-compensation-and-extradition-of-assad-from-russia/ |work=UATV |date=29 January 2025 |access-date=13 February 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250412154918/https://uatv.ua/en/new-syrian-government-demands-compensation-and-extradition-of-assad-from-russia/ |archive-date=12 April 2025 |url-status=live}}
Background
{{Bashar al-Assad series}}
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.{{cite news |title=Assad regime overthrown after 53 years of repression and brutality; pivotal opportunity to establish rule of law and individual rights |url=https://hrf.org/latest/assad-regime-overthrown-after-53-years-of-repression-and-brutality-pivotal-opportunity-to-establish-rule-of-law-and-individual-rights/ |work=Human Rights Foundation |date=9 December 2024 |access-date=13 February 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250412155212/https://hrf.org/latest/assad-regime-overthrown-after-53-years-of-repression-and-brutality-pivotal-opportunity-to-establish-rule-of-law-and-individual-rights/ |archive-date=12 April 2025 |url-status=live}}
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.{{cite news |title=The foreign forces in Syria's conflict: a brief explainer |url=https://aoav.org.uk/2024/the-foreign-forces-in-syrias-conflict-a-brief-explainer/ |work=Action on Armed Violence |date=6 December 2024 |access-date=13 February 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241210190740/https://aoav.org.uk/2024/the-foreign-forces-in-syrias-conflict-a-brief-explainer/ |archive-date=10 December 2024 |url-status=live}} On 8 December 2024, after a series of offensives by the Syrian armed opposition,{{cite news |title=12 Days That Changed Syria: The Rebel Offensive in Visuals |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/10/world/middleeast/syria-civil-war-rebels-timeline-assad.html |work=The New York Times |date=10 December 2024 |access-date=13 February 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20241225113045/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/10/world/middleeast/syria-civil-war-rebels-timeline-assad.html |archive-date=25 December 2024 |url-status=live}} Assad was overthrown and imposed a self-exile along with his wife Asma al-Assad in Moscow, Russia, where he was granted asylum together with his family.
Immediately following the fall of Damascus, advancing rebel forces dispatched scouting teams to locate and apprehend Assad, and announced a 10 million US$ reward for information leading to his capture.{{cite news |title=تحديث مباشر.. فصائل المعارضة السورية تعلن أن دمشق "حرة" ويزعمون أن بشار الأسد هرب من العاصمة |trans-title=Live update: Syrian opposition factions declare Damascus "free" and claim Bashar al-Assad fled the capital |url=https://arabic.cnn.com/middle-east/article/2024/12/08/syria-civil-war-12-07-2024-updates-assad-not-to-be-found-rebels-entered-damascus |website=CNN Arabic |lang=ar |date=8 December 2024 |access-date=24 May 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250524122832/https://arabic.cnn.com/amphtml/middle-east/article/2024/12/08/syria-civil-war-12-07-2024-updates-assad-not-to-be-found-rebels-entered-damascus |archive-date=24 May 2025 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |title=Syrian opposition offers $10 million reward for information on Al-Assad |url=https://en.royanews.tv/news/55976 |website=Roya TV |date=8 December 2024 |access-date=24 May 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250524123553/https://en.royanews.tv/news/55976 |archive-date=24 May 2025 |url-status=live}}
Handover demands
The first request for Russia to hand over Bashar al-Assad reportedly came in January 2025, during the first visit by a Russian delegation to Syria after the fall of the Assad regime. The request was allegedly made by then de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, who later became president, to a Russian delegation led by Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov.{{cite news |title=رويترز: الشرع طالب روسيا بتسليم الأسد |trans-title=Reuters: al-Sharaa demanded Russia to hand over Assad |url=https://www.aljazeera.net/news/2025/1/29/%D8%B1%D9%88%D9%8A%D8%AA%D8%B1%D8%B2-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B4%D8%B1%D8%B9-%D8%B7%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8-%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%A7-%D8%A8%D8%AA%D8%B3%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D8%B3%D8%AF |work=Al Jazeera |date=29 January 2025 |access-date=13 February 2025|lang=ar |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250412155907/https://www.aljazeera.net/news/2025/1/29/%D8%B1%D9%88%D9%8A%D8%AA%D8%B1%D8%B2-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B4%D8%B1%D8%B9-%D8%B7%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8-%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%A7-%D8%A8%D8%AA%D8%B3%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D8%B3%D8%AF |archive-date=12 April 2025 |url-status=live}} The Kremlin refused to comment on the matter.{{cite news |last=Jochecová |first=Ketrin |title=Kremlin refuses to comment on report Syria asked for Assad to be extradited |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/russia-refuses-comment-report-syria-bashar-assad-extradition/ |work=Politico |date=29 January 2025 |access-date=13 February 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250129182112/https://www.politico.eu/article/russia-refuses-comment-report-syria-bashar-assad-extradition/ |archive-date=29 January 2025 |url-status=live}}
In February 2025, Syrian Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra was asked in an interview with The Washington Post whether President al-Sharaa had formally requested Assad's extradition. He declined to confirm but acknowledged that discussions about holding Assad accountable had taken place.{{cite news |title=Syria could allow Russia to keep its bases, new defense minister says |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/02/06/syria-defense-minister-russia-bases/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=6 February 2025 |access-date=13 February 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250301215837/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/02/06/syria-defense-minister-russia-bases/ |archive-date=1 March 2025 |url-status=live}}
By early March 2025, Reuters reported that during the January meeting, Syrian officials had briefly raised the possibility of Assad returning to Syria but did not consider it a major obstacle to restoring relations. A senior Russian official stated that Moscow would not agree to extradite Assad and had not been formally asked to do so.{{cite news |title=Russia gambles to keep military bases in post-Assad Syria |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/russia-gambles-keep-military-bases-post-assad-syria-2025-03-02/ |first1=Samia |last1=Nakhoul |first2=Timour |last2=Azhari |work=Reuters |date=2 March 2025 |access-date=2 March 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250308035329/https://www.reuters.com/world/russia-gambles-keep-military-bases-post-assad-syria-2025-03-02/ |archive-date=8 March 2025 |url-status=live}} On 10 March 2025, in an interview with Reuters, al-Sharaa declined to confirm whether he had made such a request to Moscow.{{cite news |last1=Nakhoul |first1=Samia |last2=Gebeily |first2=Maya |last3=Azhari |first3=Timour |title=New Syrian leader Sharaa says killings of Alawites threaten unity, vows justice |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/new-syrian-leader-sharaa-says-killings-alawites-threaten-unity-vows-justice-2025-03-10/ |work=Reuters |date=10 March 2025 |access-date=10 March 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250310161958/https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/new-syrian-leader-sharaa-says-killings-alawites-threaten-unity-vows-justice-2025-03-10/ |archive-date=10 March 2025 |url-status=live}}
Meanwhile, on 6 March 2025, the Wall Street Journal, citing Syrian and European officials, reported that Russia was negotiating an agreement with Syria to maintain its military bases and secure various investment contracts. As part of these talks, Damascus allegedly requested Assad's handover, but Russia refused to discuss the issue.{{cite news |last1=Faucon |first1=Benoit |last2=Grove |first2=Thomas |title=Russia Is Chasing a Deal to Keep Its Military Bases in Syria |url=https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/russia-is-chasing-a-deal-to-keep-its-military-bases-in-syria-f9f6ca6e |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=5 March 2025 |access-date=7 March 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250411110425/https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/russia-is-chasing-a-deal-to-keep-its-military-bases-in-syria-f9f6ca6e |archive-date=11 April 2025 |url-status=live}}
On 22 March 2025, Al Arabiya reported, citing unnamed sources, that al-Sharaa had asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to hand over Assad for trial in Syria.{{Cite web |date=22 March 2025 |title=Syrian leader asks Putin to hand over Assad – Al Arabiya |url=https://armenpress.am/en/article/1215187 |access-date=22 March 2025 |website=Armenpress |language=en |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250412160624/https://armenpress.am/en/article/1215187 |archive-date=12 April 2025 |url-status=live}} On 7 April 2025, Russian Ambassador to Iraq Elbrus Kutrashev told the Islamic Republic News Agency that Assad's settlement in Moscow was conditional on his total withdrawal from media and political activities. He added that the asylum granted to Assad and his family had been personally ordered by Putin and would remain unchanged.{{Cite web |date=7 April 2025 |title=Russia rejects Syrian request to hand over former regime leader Assad |url=https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-849128 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250407111748/https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-849128 |archive-date=7 April 2025 |access-date=20 April 2025 |website=The Jerusalem Post}}
In an interview with The New York Times in April 2025, al-Sharaa said that Syrian officials requested Russia to extradite Assad as a condition for allowing their military presence in Syria, but Russia refused.{{Cite news |last=Goldbaum |first=Christina |date=23 April 2025 |title=Syria's Jihadist-Turned-President Seeks New Allies |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/23/world/middleeast/syria-president-al-shara-interview.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250423215541/https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/23/world/middleeast/syria-president-al-shara-interview.html |archive-date=23 April 2025 |access-date=27 April 2025 |website=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331}}