Bashar al-Assad Gaming in Moscow: Report Reveals Details
- Syria's president, Bashar al-Assad, is reportedly residing in Moscow under the protection of Russian President Vladimir Putin, where he spends considerable time playing online video games, according to...
- Die Zeit reported that Assad routinely dedicates hours to playing online video games.He also enjoys views of Moscow landmarks from his apartment and has access to a villa...
- Assad, who trained as a physician, was described as "geeky" during his medical studies according to NBC News.
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Bashar al-Assad Reportedly Lives in Moscow, Spends Time Gaming
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Syria’s president, Bashar al-Assad, is reportedly residing in Moscow under the protection of Russian President Vladimir Putin, where he spends considerable time playing online video games, according to a report by the German publication Die Zeit.
Assad’s Life in Moscow
Die Zeit reported that Assad routinely dedicates hours to playing online video games.He also enjoys views of Moscow landmarks from his apartment and has access to a villa outside the city, as well as occasional visits to a shopping mall located below his apartment building.
Assad, who trained as a physician, was described as “geeky” during his medical studies according to NBC News. The German publication did not specify wich video games he plays, nor whether his online opponents are aware of his true identity.
From Doctor to Dictator: Assad’s Rise to Power
Bashar al-Assad succeeded his father,Hafez al-Assad,as president of Syria in 2000. Initial hopes for reform under his leadership were quickly dashed. Assad ultimately presided over a brutal crackdown on dissent and a devastating 13-year civil war.
During the Syrian Civil War, Assad’s Russian-backed forces were accused of deploying chemical weapons and indiscriminately bombarding civilian populations with so-called barrel bombs, as reported by Reuters in January 2019.
Putin’s Protection and the Syrian Civil War
assad’s residency in Moscow is reportedly facilitated by the protection of President Vladimir putin.Russia has been a key ally of the Assad regime throughout the Syrian civil War, providing military, economic, and political support.
The Syrian Civil War, which began in 2011, has resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths and displaced millions of people. The conflict has drawn in numerous international actors,including Russia,the United States,Turkey,and various regional powers. The United Nations estimates that over 5.7 million Syrians remain refugees as of December 2023 according to UNHCR data.
The Legacy of Hafez al-Assad
Bashar al-Assad inherited a highly centralized and authoritarian state from his father, Hafez al-Assad, who ruled Syria from 1971 to 2000. Hafez al-Assad’s regime was marked by repression of political opposition and a cult of personality. His rule was also characterized by close ties to the Soviet Union.