The Times: Where Bashar al Assad might live in Moscow… And what his neighbor said?
When Marina, a successful businesswoman, arrived in Moscow’s upscale business district to look at an apartment, she was surprised to find that ousted Syrian dictator Bashar al Assad might be one of her neighbors.
The plans of the Assad family, who have been granted “humanitarian asylum” in Russia, remain unclear, but Assad is likely to spend some of his time in the gleaming towers of Moscow City, a business district in the west of the Russian capital, where the Assad family owns up to 20 apartments.
“I never imagined that I would live in the same building as a president, but that’s good for me, because the security situation will be better then, especially if he or his family members live in the building,” Marina said as she waited to meet a real estate agent.
“In general, I stand against anyone who works to solve problems through military action,” she added.
The Times added that the anti-corruption organization Global Witness said that Assad’s relatives, including his cousins, bought properties in the Moscow City area between 2013 and 2019 at a total cost of more than 30 million pounds, and the source of the money is said to be Assad’s Uncle, Mohammed Makhlouf.
Most of the apartments are in the City of Capitals complex, a pair of skyscrapers that were once the tallest in Europe until the Shard surpassed them in 2012.
Others are in a nearby Federation Tower, Moscow tallest building, and ads for it show expensive furnished apartments with panoramic views of the city.
“Of course I heard that the Assad family has been granted asylum in Russia,” said Svetlana, who was promoting visits to the 384-meter-high observation deck at the top of the tower.
“I think it is a good thing that we are giving them asylum. Maybe Assad made a mistake, but we must treat everyone well, treat them the way we would like to be treated,” she added.
Security concerns and the dangers surrounding “Moscow City” may not make it a permanent home for Bashar al Assad, as it has been targeted several times by Ukrainian drones, resulting in the injury of a security man and material damage.
In addition, most of the Russian elites live in the Rublyovka area on the outskirts of the capital, Moscow, or in closed complexes near the city.
Bashar al Assad is the second of Putin’s allies to receive asylum, after former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, who was granted it in 2014 and is believed to have been living near Moscow ever since.
Recently, a satirical cartoon appeared showing Bashar al Assad and Viktor Yanukovych sadly drinking vodka and eating dried fish. Bashar says to Viktor, “Putin helped us in a great way”.
