Asma al-Assad, the wife of former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, has reportedly filed for divorce amid dissatisfaction with her life in Moscow, where the family has been in exile following Bashar’s ouster by rebel forces.
The 49-year-old former First Lady, once celebrated for her elegance and prominence in Syria’s regime, is also seeking permission from Russian authorities to leave Moscow and return to her hometown of London. Born and raised in London to Syrian parents, Asma relocated to Syria in 2000 at the age of 25, where she married Bashar al-Assad, who had just succeeded his father as president.
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Life in Exile
After the Assad family’s rule ended earlier this year, they sought asylum in Moscow. However, reports from Turkish and Arab media suggest that Asma has found life in exile challenging. She has filed two petitions in a Russian court: one for divorce and the other for special authorization to leave Moscow.
Asma is also reportedly seeking urgent medical treatment in London for leukemia, expressing dissatisfaction with the quality of healthcare available to her in Russia. Sources close to the family revealed that Asma, who worked as an investment banker before her marriage, is frustrated with her current circumstances.
A Return to London?
Her mother, Sahar al-Akhras, a former Syrian diplomat and British citizen, is reportedly working with top law firms in London to secure Asma’s return. However, Russian authorities have yet to decide on her request to leave Moscow.
Challenges for Bashar al-Assad
This development adds to the mounting troubles for Bashar al-Assad, who has faced severe restrictions in Moscow. Reports indicate that Russian authorities have frozen his assets, including millions of dollars and property holdings, and barred him from political activities or leaving the country.
The couple’s fall from power marked the end of more than five decades of Assad family rule in Syria. Once referred to as the “Rose of the Desert” by Western media, Asma has become a symbol of the regime’s dramatic downfall. Her potential divorce underscores the growing personal and political challenges faced by the Assad family in exile.
