Bashar al Assad's wife Asma seeks divorce, unhappy with life in Moscow

New Delhi: Asma al-Assad, wife of ousted Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, filed for divorce in a Russian court alongside seeking special permission to leave Moscow, according to The Jerusalem Post.

Dissatisfied with her life in Moscow, the 49-year-old former First Lady is reported to be keen to shift to her hometown London.

Asma, who born and raised in London by her Syrian parents, moved to Syria in 2000 at the age of 25 and married Bashar al-Assad in the same year.

This British-Syrian national is now waiting for Russian authorities to review her plea.

Russia granted asylum to Bashar al-Assad and his family earlier this month in Moscow after they fled Syria when the rebels took over the country.

Rebels led by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) overthrew Bashar al-Assad and his family’s five decades of rule.

Assad had been in power for 24 years since taking office in 2000 succeeding his father Hafez al-Assad who governed the country from 1971 to 2000.

Bashar al-Assad is reported to be under strict restrictions in Russia with authorities not allowing him to leave Moscow or involve in political activities.

Authorities also have frozen his money and assets including 270 kilograms of gold, USD 2 billion and 18 apartments in Moscow.

Meanwhile, the asylum request of Bashar al-Assad's brother Maher al-Assad is under view of Russian authorities.

It is reported that he and his family are under house arrest.