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The Kremlin has ended hours of speculation over whether Bashar al-Assad, the deposed Syrian leader, had fled to Russia after the rebel brought his family's regime to an end at lightning
speed. Russian media claimed on Sunday that Assad had fled to Russia, where his family had reportedly also escaped. However, the Kremlin had not officially spoken about the Syrian leader,
who saw his quarter-of-a-century-long brutal reign being brought to an end in just days. Speaking to the press on Monday, the Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, would still not confirm where
exactly Assad was, as he said Moscow had “nothing to say about Assad’s whereabouts". However, he confirmed that Russian President Vladimir Putin had decided to grant asylum to Assad,
suggesting the Syrian politician is now in Russia. Asked whether Russia was surprised by the events unfolding in Syria, Peskov said: “What happened in general surprised the whole world. In
this case, we are no exception.” Putin's official schedule does not include a meeting with Assad, Peskov added. The Kremlin spokesman didn't say when Putin last met and
communicated with his Syrian ally. Assad has been removed from power after Syrian rebels launched a surprise offensive late last month. They took the cities of Aleppo and Homs before
sweeping into Damascus last weekend. Assad saw off the rebel groups during the Syrian civil war from 2011-2016, triggered by his brutal crackdown on protestors during the Arab Spring
uprising. Putin's forces played a vital role in helping Assad defeat the rebels. launching devastating airstrikes on anti-government forces and civilian areas. Sir Alex Younger, who
headed MI6 from 2014 to 2020, has said that Assad will see a sharp fall in living standards now he has fled to Moscow. He told BBC Radio 4: “I’m wholly unsurprised when a far more
existential priority, ie Ukraine, emerges that he essentially demonstrates the deep shallowness and superficiality of a relationship with Russia. “I think the Assad family living
circumstances are about to take a precipitous fall as a result.” WE'LL BE BRINGING YOU THE VERY LATEST UPDATES, PICTURES AND VIDEO ON THIS BREAKING NEWS STORY. FOR THE LATEST NEWS AND
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