Moscow:
The Kremlin on Monday refused to confirm reports that toppled Syrian President Bashar al-Assad had fled to Moscow, adding that it was “surprised” by the rebels' takeover.
“As for Assad's whereabouts, I have nothing to tell you,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
A Kremlin source told Russian news agencies on Sunday that Assad and his family were in Moscow, hours after he fled the country as Islamist-led rebels entered Damascus.
Assad's son studied in the Russian capital.
Peskov said on Monday that if Russia were to grant asylum to Assad and his family, it would be a decision by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“Such decisions obviously cannot be made without the head of state, and it is his decision,” Peskov said.
He said a meeting with Assad was not on Putin's agenda.
Russia has sheltered several deposed leaders, including former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych.
In brief comments on the dramatic events in Syria in recent days, Peskov admitted that the Kremlin was surprised.
“What happened took the whole world by surprise and in this case we are no exception,” he said.
Russia has strategically important army and naval bases in Syria, where it launched a military intervention alongside Assad in 2015.
“Now a very complex period will begin because of the instability,” Peskov said.
When asked what would happen to the Russian bases, he replied: “It is still too early to say anything about that. This is a topic for discussion with whoever comes to power in Syria.”
The Kremlin spokesman said the security of the bases was “very important.”
“We are doing everything possible and necessary to connect with those who can provide safety. And our military is also taking precautionary measures,” the report said.
The Kremlin source, quoted by Russian news agencies on Sunday, had said that the rebels who ousted Assad “guaranteed the security of Russian army bases and diplomatic institutions on Syrian territory.”
The Syrian embassy in Moscow raised the opposition flag at the building on Monday, while a spokesman said the facility was functioning normally.
Peskov said Russia was “in dialogue” with Turkey, which supported rebels in Syria, and said: “Here it is important to maintain dialogue with all countries. We fully intend to do this and analyze the situation.”
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
