The fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government in December 2024 ended more than 50 years of Assad family rule in Syria, but it did not end the material or security privileges surrounding the former president. 

A New York Times investigation traces how Assad and close relatives secured a swift, well-resourced exile in Russia, illustrating how regime collapse did not translate into isolation or hardship for Syria’s former ruling elite. 

The account draws on witnesses, relatives, former officials, diplomats, and digital records tied to 55 senior figures from the fallen regime.

According to multiple sources cited by the Times, Assad and his inner circle fled Syria via private jets and car convoys as rebel forces consolidated control. 

Upon arrival in Moscow, they were placed under the protection of Russian security services. 

Their first residence was a set of luxury apartments operated by the Four Seasons Hotel, with weekly costs reaching up to $13,000. From there, Assad and his family moved into a two-story penthouse in Federation Tower, one of Europe’s tallest skyscrapers, before later relocating him to a guarded villa in Rublyovka, an elite enclave west of Moscow known for housing senior Russian officials and business figures.

Guarded Freedom, Enforced Silence

Russian support has come with clear constraints. 

Former Syrian officials and a regional diplomat said Russian security services continue to oversee Assad’s movements and have instructed the family not to issue public statements. 

In February 2025, authorities intervened after Assad’s son Hafez, 24, shared details of the family’s escape on social media and posted a video of himself walking through Moscow. 

He has not posted publicly since.

Despite these restrictions, Assad has been seen in exclusive public spaces. 

Witnesses described spotting him at Sixty, a restaurant on the 62nd floor of Federation Tower that attracts members of Russia’s political elite. 

The venue advertises itself as one of the highest restaurants in Europe. 

Maher al-Assad, the former commander of Syria’s Fourth Division, was also seen repeatedly in Moscow’s business district in 2025 and appeared in a June video at a luxury hookah bar near Afimall, a high-end shopping complex.

Wealth Retained, Power Reordered

Evidence collected by the Times indicates that the Assad family retained substantial financial resources in exile. 

In November 2025, Bashar al-Assad hosted an elaborate party at a suburban villa to mark his daughter Zein’s 22nd birthday. 

Around the same time, his niece Sham al-Assad celebrated her own 22nd birthday with events held over two nights in Dubai, including a private yacht party featuring DJs, lighting effects, and amenities that marketing materials suggest cost several thousand dollars for a few hours, with additional fees for staff and performers.

Social media images reviewed by the Times showed luxury-brand gifts from Hermès, Chanel, and Dior, as well as champagne celebrations. 

Both daughters have spent time in the United Arab Emirates, which family friends and former officers said was enabled by a special arrangement with Emirati officials. 

Emirati authorities did not respond to questions from the Times.

Zein al-Assad resumed her studies briefly at Sorbonne Abu Dhabi, where she was accompanied by bodyguards, before later receiving a diploma from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations on June 30, 2025. 

Photographs showed her mother and brothers attending the ceremony.

Loyalty’s Uneven Aftermath

The investigation also highlights stark disparities among those who fled with Assad. 

Maher al-Assad has reportedly sent money to former officers to help them rent apartments or start small businesses. 

By contrast, Bashar al-Assad’s longtime personal assistant was left without support after accompanying him to Moscow in December 2024 without a passport, money, or personal belongings. 

After being presented with an unaffordable hotel bill, repeated calls to Assad went unanswered. 

The assistant eventually returned to Syria, where he now lives quietly and struggles financially. 

“Bashar lives his life fully, like nothing happened,” a former colleague said.