Moscow: Assad's reception was for purely humanitarian reasons

Moscow – Agencies: The Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed that the decision to host former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Russia was taken for purely humanitarian reasons, noting that no political motives underlie this decision. This was stated by Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova, who added, “There was and is no political background to the decision to host him in our country. This decision was made based on purely humanitarian considerations, amid the dramatic circumstances of the change of power in Syria, where he and his family members were threatened with death.” Zakharova’s remarks came in response to a question about whether Russia had granted asylum to Bashar al-Assad after a court in Damascus issued a death sentence in absentia against him.