(MENAFN) Russia declined to provide any clarification on Thursday regarding whether the extradition of Bashar al-Assad was addressed during recent discussions in Moscow between President Vladimir Putin and Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa.

The meeting, which took place a day earlier, marked a significant diplomatic encounter between the two leaders.

During the talks, Sharaa expressed Syria’s readiness to revive its “historic and strategic” alliance with Russia, reaffirming his country's commitment to honoring all prior agreements made with Moscow.

This trip represented Sharaa’s first official visit to Russia since it offered refuge to Assad following his removal from power in December 2024.

Putin emphasized that the relationship between Moscow and Damascus has always been characterized by “exclusively friendly” interactions.

He also described last month’s Syrian parliamentary elections as a “great success,” noting that the event is likely to promote the “consolidation of society.”

When questioned about Assad's potential extradition, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters, “We have nothing to report on Assad here, we have nothing to report in this context.”

His comments suggest that the subject was either avoided or not prioritized during the leaders’ dialogue.

Peskov went on to refute any claims that a reciprocal visit by Putin to Syria was discussed. However, he acknowledged that such invitations could be communicated through appropriate diplomatic means in the future.

Furthermore, Peskov confirmed that the status of Russia’s military installations in Syria — including a naval base in Tartus and an air base in Hmeimim, both situated along Syria’s Mediterranean coastline — was part of the conversation. However, he refrained from disclosing additional specifics about those discussions.

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