Mr Bashar al-Assad moved to the Russian suburb of Rublyovka that boasts a “luxury village” shopping complex.PHOTO: OLGA KRAVETS/NYTIMES

For fallen Syrian dictator Assad and family, an exile of luxury and impunity in Moscow

23 Dec 2025, 04:00 · The Straits Times

MOSCOW – Just a few weeks after a whirlwind rebel offensive seized control of his homeland in 2024, a Syrian expatriate in Moscow treated himself to a meal in the city’s tallest skyscraper.

With views from the 62nd floor, stylish hosts and elaborate cocktails, the restaurant Sixty regularly welcomes members of Russia’s political elite and foreign celebrities.