Asma al-Assad: Deposed dictator Bashar al-Assad’s wife reportedly seeking divorce and a move back to the UK

The British wife of Syrian tyrant Bashar al-Assad may be in danger in Russia after rumours she has filed for divorce and plans to move back to the UK, it was warned on Monday.

Asma al-Assad, 49, is in exile in Moscow with the deposed dictator, 59, but wants to separate and move to London, reports claimed.

The Kremlin was quick to push back on Turkish media claims she is looking to leave her husband of 24 years and flee Russia after rebels took control of Damascus following a lightning advance earlier this month.

But pro-opposition political analyst Stanislav Belkovsky warned: “Western intelligence agencies are expressing extreme concern about the physical safety of Asma Assad.”

“Life in Moscow, Russia – in a golden cage – is no longer satisfactory for Asma Assad,” he added.

“She wants to move to London, UK and return to work in investment banking (and) at the same time, if possible, to remove part of her family’s capital from sanctions.”

Assad’s wife is still bound by tough sanctions, which No 10 confirmed on Monday would prevent her from being able to return to the UK.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy said earlier this month she is “not welcome here”.

Russia is reportedly anxious about the idea of her returning to Britain.

“Of course, the Kremlin plus Russian special services are wary of such a development,” Belkovsky said.

“Unless they really are trying to secretly make Asma their (deeply undercover) agent in the UK / Euro-Atlantic world. Anything is possible.”

Asma has already applied to a Russian court for permission to leave Russia for Britain, multiple media outlets including The Jerusalem Post claimed, each citing Turkish and Arab media.

Her application is currently being evaluated by the Russian authorities, according to the accounts, which began circulating on Sunday night.

They suggested the toppled dictator and his family are under ‘severe restrictions’ in Moscow, with Assad reportedly barred from leaving the city or engaging in political activities.

His wider family are believed to own dozens of apartments in the Russian capital and he reportedly moved to Moscow some 270 kilos of gold and £1.6billion with him when he fled Syria.

But his assets and money in the country are now said to have been frozen, the unconfirmed reports added.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, however, rejected the claims and denied Assad, a long-time ally of Putin, had been confined to Moscow.

There has been no comment on the divorce reports from Assad or his wife.

The British Government has indicated that sanctions, including a travel ban and asset freeze, would stop her from coming back to the UK.

No 10 on Monday refused to comment on whether she could have her citizenship revoked.

She was born in London and was raised in Acton, West London, by Syrian parents. She moved to Syria in 2000 and married the dictator at the age of 25.