Russian State Duma deputies have proposed relocating the family of ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to Mariupol. The initiative has caused a stir both in Russia and abroad. According to one of the initiators, the move of Assad and his family to the restored Mariupol will symbolize the strengthening of relations between Russia and its allies, as well as a demonstration of the success of the Russian program to restore liberated territories.

"I think that Bashar al-Assad, or rather his family, could take custody of one of the areas of Donbass that suffered from military actions and settle in one of the new buildings in Mariupol. He could also support Emir Kusturica to film a movie in Donbass based on Dostoevsky. I am for him to prove himself in the service of the Russian people, and then, for his contribution to the restoration of Donbass, the issue of citizenship could be considered.", - said Kuznetsov.

According to media reports, Bashar al-Assad's family is already in Russia after the fall of his regime in December 2024. The British newspaper The Times reported that Assad and his relatives could have been housed in the elite residential complexes of Moscow City. The Kremlin has not officially commented on the location of the Syrian ex-leader.