Ousted Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad, who has been living in the Russian capital since fleeing the country, spends his time in seclusion, primarily playing computer games. Die Zeit learned this from an anonymous source who has known the former president's family since childhood.

According to the source, Assad and his family reside in an elite skyscraper in the Moscow-City district of Moscow, and the former leader spends part of his time at a country house outside Moscow. The family travels throughout the city and surrounding region without restrictions, protected by a private security firm hired by the Russian authorities.

"He spends his days playing online games non-stop," — the interlocutor conveyed details of Assad’s daily life.