Syrian ambassador in Moscow seeks asylum in Russia: Reports

Syria's ambassador to Moscow, Bashar Jaafari, has reportedly requested asylum in Russia, according to a report by Russia’s state-run news agency TASS on Monday.

TASS cited an unnamed source in its report but did not disclose any further information regarding the circumstances or reasons behind Jaafari’s alleged request.

Jaafari has served as Syria’s top diplomat in Moscow since 2022, following a lengthy tenure of 15 years as the country’s permanent representative to the United Nations.

According to TASS, Jaafari had recently received a notification from Damascus recalling him from his post and appointing a new head of the Syrian diplomatic mission in Russia.

In a later development, Lebanon-based al-Mayadeen TV reported that Jaafari had denied the claim. However, the station offered no additional details or direct statements from the ambassador.

The situation remains unclear as neither Syrian nor Russian officials have issued official comments on the matter.