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| Bashar al-Assad found refuge in Russia after his regime was toppled last year. / RIA NOVOSTI/AFP via Getty Images |
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), a UK-based organization, reported on Thursday that al-Assad was rushed to an emergency room near Moscow on September 20. He was said to be in critical condition and was treated in an intensive care unit before being discharged last week following his recovery.
Rami Abdul Rahman, the director of the SOHR, stated that a "reliable source" informed him that al-Assad was targeted in a deliberate "poisoning operation." The attempt on the ousted strongman's life reportedly took place at his heavily guarded private villa near the Russian capital, where he has been living in exile.
"We have demanded clarification from the Russian authorities about what happened and who poisoned him," Rahman wrote in the report. "The source confirmed that the Russian government had nothing to do with the incident, but it's possible they are being deliberately implicated."
Rahman added that the individuals behind the alleged poisoning have no apparent links to either the current Syrian government or the United States. Despite this, he placed the ultimate responsibility for the former leader's safety on his hosts.
“Whether he is killed or not, the Russian government is still responsible, and there has been no response on this matter yet,” he said.
According to the SOHR report, al-Assad was well enough to permit his brother, Maher al-Assad, and his top aide, Mansour Azzam, to visit him in the hospital. The deposed dictator reportedly lives with his entourage at the Russian villa, where his brother has also been a visitor.
The Kremlin-allied former dictator ruled Syria for over two decades until his regime was overthrown by rebel forces last year, forcing him to flee to Moscow for protection.
This is not the first claim of its kind. In December, the Telegram channel "General SVR," which purports to be run by a former top Russian intelligence agent, also alleged that al-Assad had been poisoned in an assassination attempt. However, the fact-checking website Snopes has previously expressed skepticism about the Telegram account's reports, noting its history of making sensational claims that lack independent verification.
Meanwhile, the al-Assad family faces other crises. His wife, Asma, is currently battling leukemia. Her father told The Daily Beast last year that she wished to return to her hometown of London, as "her health condition cannot be fully monitored in Moscow."