A report published by the German newspaper Die Zeit revealed aspects of the life of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Moscow, where he lives under the direct protection of the Kremlin, during one of the most isolated and enigmatic periods of his life.

The report stated that Assad’s life in Moscow combines extreme luxury with total isolation — while he resides in apartments overlooking skyscrapers, his political record remains in the hands of Moscow, far removed from any role or influence in Syria’s future.