Apartments Worth $40 Million: Assad Family Bought Real Estate in Moscow

Relatives of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad have bought at least 19 luxury apartments in the Russian capital.

Relatives of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad have bought at least 19 apartments in the Moscow City district of Moscow, reports the Financial Times, citing documents held by the anti-corruption organization Global Witness.

According to the newspaper, from 2013 to mid-2019, members of the family of Assad’s uncle — Mohammad Makhlouf — spent at least $40 million on apartments in the Russian capital. However, the properties are officially owned by offshore companies. Global Witness believes the Makhloufs may have used the purchase of apartments in Moscow to launder money.

Some of the deals were made through companies controlled by Assad’s cousin and head of the Damascus branch of Syria’s General Security Directorate, Hafez Makhlouf. Several apartments were bought by the wife of another Assad cousin — Rami Makhlouf — and her sister, as well as by three other Makhlouf brothers.

Rami, who is considered one of the most influential Syrian businessmen, was sanctioned by the European Union in 2011 for “financing a regime that permits violence against protesters,” and in September 2019 media reported that Assad had placed him under house arrest because he refused to allocate money to repay Russia’s debt.

No member of the Makhlouf family or representatives of the companies has commented on the property information so far.

The Kremlin, meanwhile, said it did not know about the purchase of apartments in Moscow City by Assad’s entourage.

“No, we do not know, and we should not have to know. Russia has an absolutely free market,” — the Interfax news agency quoted Russian President’s press secretary Dmitry Peskov.

“I do not know how accurate this information is. But Russia is an absolutely free market, and very many citizens (of the Russian Federation, — ed.) as well as citizens of other countries buy real estate here. This is a normal, widespread practice,” Peskov said.

Earlier it became known that Syria’s first lady, wife of President Bashar al-Assad, Asma al-Assad, has overcome cancer.