Russia’s decision to grant former Syrian President Bashar Assad refuge was based solely on humanitarian considerations and had no political motivation.

Axar.az reports, citing TASS, that Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said this Thursday.

“There were and are no political grounds behind his stay in our country. The dramatic circumstances of the change of power in Syria meant that he and his family faced death,” Zakharova said.

Her remarks came after a Syrian criminal court sentenced Assad, his cousin Atef Najib and seven other wanted suspects to death in absentia on Aug. 11.

Bashar al-Assad was ousted in 2024.