Lavrov denies Assad poisoning rumors, cites humanitarian asylum in Russia
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov addressed rumors about Bashar Assad’s situation, stating that the former Syrian president and his family are in Russia for humanitarian reasons, seeking safety from threats against their lives. Lavrov dismissed rumors of poisoning, emphasizing that Assad’s presence in Moscow is solely due to the danger he faced, not health issues.
He drew a parallel to the fate of Muammar Gaddafi, noting that the international community had celebrated his demise. Lavrov reiterated that Assad has no problems living in Russia and warned against spreading false rumors.
In December 2024, after a major offensive, Assad resigned and left Syria, and by January 2025, the new Syrian authorities appointed Ahmed al-Sharaa, a leader of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, as interim president.
