Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, personally approved the rescue of Assad on Sunday and has guaranteed his safety in exile, although he has no intention of meeting him. Russia organised for Bashir al-Assad to flee to Moscow via its air base on the Syrian coast as rebels broke into Damascus on Sunday. Assad followed the advice and reportedly fled Damascus without telling his closest advisers and friends in case he was betrayed. Once his private jet had taken off from the capital, its transponder was switched off and the aircraft flew to Russia’s Khmeimim air base on the Syrian coast. DO you think that Bashir al-Assad could have been assassinated if it was not for Russia ?