Assad’s Life After Power: Reports Suggest a Return to His Old Profession in Moscow

Moscow—December 2025 (SNN News), More than a year after his government collapsed and Russian forces evacuated him from Syria, former president Bashar al-Assad is reportedly spending his exile in Moscow revisiting a life he once left behind—medicine.

International media reports indicate that Assad has been studying the Russian language and refreshing his training in ophthalmology, the profession he practiced before entering politics. The move appears symbolic rather than professional, reflecting a retreat into an identity shaped long before his rule and Syria’s prolonged war.

Assad, who trained as an eye doctor in the United Kingdom, fled Damascus in December 2024 as rebel forces advanced on the capital. He was reportedly evacuated through Russia’s Hmeimim air base, marking the end of more than five decades of Assad-family rule in Syria.

Originally not expected to lead the country, Assad’s path to power shifted after the death of his elder brother, Basil, who had been widely viewed as the heir. His medical background was once presented as a sign of modern leadership, a narrative that later unraveled as the conflict escalated.

Since arriving in Russia, Assad and his family are believed to be living under strict limitations. Reports suggest Russian authorities have barred him from political activity and media appearances, keeping him largely out of public view.

Meanwhile, Syria continues to face a fragile transition. Violence has not fully subsided, humanitarian needs remain severe, and reconstruction costs are estimated to exceed $200 billion. Assad’s reported return to studying medicine highlights a sharp contrast between his quiet life in exile and the challenges confronting Syrians at home.