Assad’s Family Owns 20 Apartments Worth $40 Million in Moscow, Says FT

The extended family of Bashar al-Assad has purchased at least 20 luxury apartments in Moscow City for $40 million, according to the Financial Times, which cites real estate purchase documents in its possession.

“What has not been previously disclosed is that the complex is also home to at least 18 luxury apartments bought by the extended family of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad to keep tens of millions of dollars out of Syria as the country’s civil war raged, FT wrote.

Assad’s relatives acquired the Moscow apartments between 2013 and 2019. The largest share of the properties is owned by Assad’s cousin, Hafez Makhlouf, or companies under his control. According to the documents, 13 of the apartments are directly or indirectly linked to him.

According to a Kremlin source, Russian authorities have provided asylum to al-Assad and his family. Meanwhile, Ukraine's Defense Intelligence has labeled reports of Assad's death in a plane crash as disinformation.

On December 8, Syrian opposition forces declared the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad after capturing Damascus, bringing an end to more than five decades of authoritarian rule under the Assad dynasty.