Syria’s former President Bashar al-Assad, whose notoriously brutal rule over the nation earned him the nickname “The Butcher,” was deposed in 2024 after years of bloody civil conflict.
Now, in a surreal cyberpunk twist, according to a report in German newsweekly Die Zeit, the previous dictator is basically holed up in a luxurious high-rise in Moscow, the place he routinely spends hours enjoying on-line video video games.
Assad, who practiced as a doctor and was reportedly thought of as “geeky” throughout his medical coaching years, additionally seems to get pleasure from beautiful views of Moscow landmarks from his condominium, and has entry to a villa outdoors the town. He additionally reportedly makes occasional visits to a shopping center under his condominium. Assad apparently resides in Russia beneath President Vladimir Putin’s safety, in line with Die Zeit.
Assad succeeded his father, Hafez al-Assad, as president of Syria in 2000. Regardless of there being preliminary hopes for reform, Bashar al-Assad finally presided over a brutal crackdown on dissent and a 13-year civil conflict, during which his Russian-backed forces had been accused of deploying chemical weapons and bombarding the civilian inhabitants with so-called barrel bombs.
The German publication didn’t specify what video video games the previous Syrian chief enjoys, nor whether or not he performs in opposition to on-line opponents who is perhaps unaware of his identification.

