Media: New Syrian leader requests al-Assad's extradition from Russia

The head of the new Syrian administration, Ahmad al-Sharaa, has reportedly requested the handover of ousted leader Bashar al-Assad and his closest associates during talks with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov.

The Turkish Yeni Shafak publication reports that the request was made in the course of the Russian official's visit to Syria on January 28, which marked the first Russian state visit to the country since the fall of the Assad regime back in December 2024. 

The Russian foreign ministry commented on the Syria trip, noting that the parties discussed the future of the Russian military bases that are based in Syria's Tartous and Khmeimim regions. According to Bogdanov, their status remains unchanged following the visit, adding that matter relating to their fate requires "further negotiations". 

As Caliber.Az recalls, Syria's former leader Bashar al-Assad rushed to Moscow, a long-time ally of his government, in December 2024 after various rebel groups fought their way to the capital Damascus, with the Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham leading the advance. 

By Nazrin Sadigova