“From dictator to gamer”: Bashar al-Assad reportedly spends his days playing video games in Moscow

Bashar al-Assad, the former Syrian President, has reportedly taken up gaming. In a surprising twist about his life in exile, it’s claimed that Bashar al-Assad is spending hours each day playing online video games in a luxury high-rise apartment in Moscow.

This strange news was brought to light by a recent investigation by the German newspaper Die Zeit. According to Die Zeit, the 60-year-old ousted leader, who fled Damascus in December 2024 amid a rebel offensive, now leads a reclusive life, focusing solely on gaming and occasional shopping sprees beneath his residence. 

Sources close to Assad’s circle describe him rarely leaving his apartment, barely even going to the nearby grocery store located in the complex, and instead, immersing himself in long gaming sessions.

Assad’s gaming hobby paints an ironic picture, considering his public statements from February 2007, when he told ABC’s Diane Sawyer that he used the internet solely for information.

Assad succeeded his father, Hafez al-Assad, as president in 2000 and ruled Syria for over two decades before his regime collapsed. His tenure was marred by allegations of severe human rights violations, including state-sponsored torture, mass detentions, and indiscriminate bombings during the civil war that began in 2011.

Backed by allies such as Iran and Russia, Assad continued his regime for more than 13 years amid the civil war. Following the rapid advance of rebel forces spearheaded by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, Assad fled and sought asylum in Russia, where Vladimir Putin personally approved his sanctuary on humanitarian grounds in December 2024.

According to the Die Zeit report, Assad and his family occupy approximately 20 apartments spanning three floors of a high-end skyscraper, complete with shopping malls on the lower levels. He tries to maintain a low profile while protected by private bodyguards funded by the Russian government.

This is in accordance with an April 2025 statement by Russian Ambassador to Iraq Elbrus Kutrashev, who stated that Assad’s asylum was conditioned on his complete withdrawal from media appearances and political activities.

As for what kind of games Assad is playing, the report didn’t go into further details, but a common joke amongst gamers seemingly in the know is that he plays Russian tanks in World of Tanks.