It has now been claimed by online account General SVR that the 59-year-old was taken ill on Sunday (December 29), with it being claimed he began to “cough violently and choke” after summoning medial assistance
Bashar al-Assad was reportedly taken ill (file)(Image: AFP/Getty Images)
Ousted Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad allegedly fell victim to a poisoning attempt, it has been reported. The tyrant has been under the protection of Vladimir Putin in Moscow since December 8, after he was overthrown by a rebel coalition.
It has now been claimed by online account General SVR that the 59-year-old was taken ill on Sunday (December 29). The account is run by a person thought to be a former top Russian spy. It claimed that he began to “cough violently and choke” after summoning medial assistance.
According to the Sun, The source said: “There is every reason to believe an assassination attempt was made.”
People wave independence-era Syrian flags during a demonstration celebrating the fall of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
His condition was stabilised on Monday (December 30) after being treated in his hotel room, with tests reported to have found he had poison in his system.
Speaking previously to The Daily Star, Professor Anothony Glees of the University of Buckingham said Assad ought to “fear for his life.”
He explained: “As long as he lives, Assad reminds the world of two key things: first that he was an evil monster but supported to the hilt by Russia and secondly that by being self-evidently incapable of keeping Assad in power, Putin has demonstrated his weakness right now.
He added: “In short, the moment Putin has decided Assad has become a liability, he will do to Assad what he did to Prigozhin. If I were Assad I’d stay away from windows, and ensure I had a taster to drink my tea and eat my hummus before passing it to me.”
He fled the Middle East with his wife Asma, 49. A British citizen, is allegedly trying to find a route back to the UK for medical treatment.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his wife Asma fled the country after being ousted by rebels (file)(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Conservative MP Robert Jenrick warned she should not be allowed to return to Britain because the “Assad family were responsible for some of the worst atrocities in modern times.”
He told the Telegraph : “It would be an affront to the millions of Assad’s victims if his wife returned to a life of luxury in the UK.”
Political analyst Stanislav Belkovsky said she may want to return to her life in London, saying: “Life in Moscow, Russia – in a golden cage – is no longer satisfactory for Asma Assad.
“She wants to move to London, UK and return to work in investment banking [and] at the same time, if possible, to remove part of her family’s capital from sanctions.”
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