Russia confirms secure transport of Assad to Moscow and rules out trial handover

Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov confirmed that Bashar al-Assad was securely transported to Russia after being ousted as Syria's president. The Kremlin granted him asylum, marking a significant shift in the Syrian conflict. Ryabkov stated that Russia is not obligated to hand over Assad for trial, as it is not a party to the International Criminal Court. This stance reflects Russia's long-standing support for Syria. Additionally, Ryabkov mentioned that Russia is open to considering a new prisoner swap, similar to a previous exchange involving a journalist and a former U.S. Marine.