Assad is married to British-Syrian Asma, who was born and raised in west London to Syrian parents.
She attended school and university in London before becoming an investment banker.
Asma moved to Syria full-time in 2000 and married Assad around the time he succeeded his father as president.
Dr Nesrin Alrefaai, a visiting fellow at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), told BBC News that Asma “has a British passport so she can return to the UK” rather than stay in Russia.
“However, the US (imposed) sanctions on her father, Dr. Fawaz al-Akhras, who is also reportedly in Russia,” she said, suggesting Asma may want to stay in Moscow for the time being.
Asma’s father, a cardiologist, and mother Sahar, a retired diplomat, were quoted by neighbors as saying they wanted to be in Moscow to “comfort” their daughter and son-in-law, according to a Mail Online report.
Asad and his wife have three children: graduate student Hafez, Zain and Karim.
