Syria's new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa has asked the Kremlin to hand over former President Bashar al-Assad, who has been under Russian protection since fleeing Damascus in December 2024. This was reported on March 21, 2025, by the Al Arabiya TV channel, citing its own sources. Al-Sharaa, who took over the country after a rapid rebel offensive that toppled the Assad regime, insists that the former president be brought to trial in his home country. The channel did not provide details of the request, but the statement was another sign of tension in relations between Moscow and the new Syrian authorities.

Assad fled the country in early December last year, when al-Sharaa-led Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham forces captured the capital, ending his decades-long rule. He has been in Russia ever since, making him the subject of complex diplomatic negotiations. Moscow, which has given Assad asylum, is trying to maintain its military presence in Syria, including the strategically important bases of Tartus and Khmeimim. The former provides logistical support in the Mediterranean, while the latter serves as a key staging area for operations on the African continent. However, the new Syrian authorities have repeatedly stressed that any agreement with Russia must take into account Damascus’s interests and correcting past mistakes.

On March 20, Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a message to al-Sharaa expressing support for efforts to stabilize the situation in Syria. According to the Kremlin press service, Moscow confirmed its readiness to strengthen bilateral relations and develop practical cooperation across the entire spectrum of issues. Putin emphasized Russia's commitment to preserving the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of Syria, but the issue of Assad's fate was not addressed in the message. This was part of the Kremlin's efforts to maintain influence in the region despite the change of power in Damascus.