VLADIMIR Putin personally granted political asylum to ousted Syrian tyrant Bashar al Assad who was forced to flee after rebels toppled his government.
Assad’s fellow despot and friend Putin granted him refuge as he scrambled to get out of Syria – fleeing to Moscow by helicopter on Sunday.
Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad (L) together in 2017[/caption]
Opposition fighters celebrate as they burn down a military court in capital Damascus on Sunday[/caption]
The Syrian opposition flag is raised at the Syrian embassy, in Moscow this morning[/caption]
Civilians celebrate in Damascus on Sunday after Assad flees[/caption]
Kremlin mouthpiece Dmitry Peskov officially confirmed the move on Monday, telling reporters that Putin had made the call himself.
He said Russia had “nothing to say about Assad’s whereabouts”.
Syrian rebels took down Assad’s government after 24 years of violent rule.
They conducted a 10-day lightning blitz that culminated yesterday – with gleeful rebels dancing in Damascus following Assad’s surrender.
Delighted fighters also posted footage from inside Assad’s presidential palace – looting through his luxury belongings and tearing the building apart.
Peskov said the astonishing development “surprised the whole world”, adding that Russia is “no exception.”
Moscow’s foreign ministry said yesterday they were “following the dramatic events in Syria with extreme concern.”
Meanwhile a group of men at the Syrian embassy in Moscow raised the opposition flag on Monday morning, AFP reported.
They sang and cheered from the balcony underneath the green, white and black flag with red stars.
Russian firepower has long been a key pillar in holding Assad in power.
Putin sent thousands of troops to the country in 2015 to help the evil leader maintain his iron-grasp on power amid civil war.
In return Assad granted Russia almost 50-year long leases on military bases – including an air base in Hmeimim and a naval base in Tartous.
It gave Russia a key foothold in the Middle East – an area already rocked by turmoil involving another Russian ally – Iran.
Assad (L) and Putin (R) shake hands during a meeting[/caption]
