Russian President Vladimir Putin personally approved Bashar Assad’s asylum in Moscow, the Kremlin confirmed on Monday. The revelation follows reports that the former Syrian president and his family had arrived in Russia after the fall of Damascus to armed opposition forces.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told a press briefing that there was no meeting scheduled to take place between Putin and Assad. “There is nothing to say regarding Assad’s whereabouts,” he added. When asked how Assad had been granted political asylum, Peskov said: “Such decisions cannot be made without the head of state; it is his decision.”

Mikhail Ulyanov, a senior Russian diplomat, confirmed earlier Monday that Assad and his family were in Moscow, saying this reflected Russia’s commitment to its allies in challenging times. “Russia does not betray its friends in difficult situations… unlike the US,” Ulyanov stated.

On Sunday, Russian media reported that Assad and his family had been granted asylum in Russia “on humanitarian grounds.” According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, Assad agreed to step down following negotiations with armed opposition groups and instructed officials to ensure a “peaceful transfer of power.”

Hayat Tahrir-al-Sham (HTS) fighters, along with other anti-government factions, seized control of Damascus on Saturday following a swift advance in several regions of Syria.