Syrian Ambassador to Moscow Bashar Jaafari has requested asylum in Russia.
"The Syrian ambassador has requested asylum in the Russian Federation," TASS reports citing a source.
Earlier, the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs made the decision to replace its ambassador in Moscow. According to Abdullah al-Haqi, the media relations coordinator at the Syrian Foreign Ministry, the ministry decided to transfer the ambassadors from Moscow and Riyadh back to the central administration in Damascus.
Al-Haqi told the agency that there are several candidates for the post of head of the diplomatic mission in Moscow.
"We will announce the name of the new ambassador later," he said.
UPDATE: Syrian Ambassador to Moscow Bashar Jaafari later denied information about his request for asylum in Russia.