The British wife of deposed Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad is seeking to divorce him and move back to the UK, according to reports.
The Assads fled to Moscow after their regime was finally toppled in December after 24 years in power.
But Asma al-Assad, 49, is reportedly unhappy with life as an exile under constant guard in Putin’s Russia, and has asked a Russian court for permission to leave Moscow for London, Turkish media reports.
Asma is a dual British-Syrian national who was born and raised in London before moving to Syria in 2000 and marrying Assad later that year at the age of 25.
Although his request for asylum was accepted, Assad is currently believed to be living under ‘severe restrictions’ in Moscow. His assets and money are reported to be frozen, and the former dictator is barred from leaving the city or engaging in political activities.
The family had assets which include 270 kilograms of gold, over £1 billion in cash and 18 apartments in Moscow which they are currently unable to access.
Asma and the couple’s three children were already in Russia, where reports say she has been undergoing treatment for acute myeloid leukaemia, an aggressive form of blood and bone marrow cancer.
It is rumoured she would prefer to be treated in the UK, which has prompted the move.
Bashar al-Assad’s brother, Maher al-Assad, has not been granted asylum in Russia, and his request is still under review, according to the Saudi and Turkish reports. Maher and his family are under house arrest in Russia.
Assad was overthrown in early December during an offensive by rebel forces led by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).
His Baath regime had been in power for 61 years before finally being toppled this month.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.
