MOSCOW, October 14. /TASS/. Russia’s decision to grant political asylum to former Syrian President Bashar Assad is irreversible, and the incumbent government in Damascus understands that, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Georgy Borisenko said.

"Our Syrian partners are well aware that Russia granted political asylum to Bashar Assad on humanitarian grounds. And the incumbent government in Damascus understands that this Russian decision is irreversible," the high-ranking Russian diplomat told RTVI in an interview.

Armed opposition units in Syria launched a large-scale offensive against Syrian army positions in late November 2024. On December 8, they entered Damascus, while Assad stepped down and fled the country. Leader of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group (outlawed in Russia), Ahmed al-Sharaa, became Syria’s de facto new leader. On January 29, 2025, he proclaimed himself acting president for a transitional period of four to five years.