The wife of ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Asma al-Assad, is filing for divorce after 24 years of marriage. According to Turkish publication Haberturk, she is not happy with her new life in Russia after the family escaped from Syria.
Allegedly, Asma al-Assad already filed for divorce in a Russian court, sources claim. The woman plans to obtain permission to leave Moscow and move to her homeland. Bashar al-Assad's wife is originally from London, UK.
According to Turkish media outlets, Asma al-Assad's wish for divorce is due to the fact that she remains under constant surveillance and serious restrictions in the Russian capital.
Turkish publication Haberturk said that the Russian authorities banned Assad from leaving Moscow or engaging in political activities and froze his access to assets and property.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, however, that reports in the Turkish media were not true.
A few days ago it was reported that Asma Assad was in Moscow before her husband was overthrown as head of Syria. The Financial Times reported that she was undergoing cancer treatment in the Russian capital. Her mother, father and daughter Zein Assad were also in Moscow.
Asma Assad was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in May of this year. She continues fighting a relapse of the disease. Several years ago, Asma Assad had a breast tumor removed.
Leukemia can be cured, although the treatment process may take up to a year.
Asma Assad is 49 years old. She was born in the UK and has dual citizenship. She graduated from King's College London, went to Syria in 2000 she and met her future husband there.