Bashar Assad Gets Death Sentence: Can Syria Bring Him Back From Russia?

The death sentence handed to Bashar Assad in absentia is a major moment for Syria. But it also raises a hard question: can Syria deliver justice when the man at the centre of the case is living safely in Russia?

A Syrian court in Damascus on Tuesday sentenced Assad and his younger brother Maher Assad to death over crimes committed during Syria’s nearly 14 year war. Assad was convicted of premeditated murder, torture, arbitrary arrests and crimes against humanity. The judge said Assad used state agencies to carry out war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The ruling is the first conviction of Assad and the first sentences against him or members of his inner circle since his family’s five decades of rule ended. The war killed about half a million people and left millions displaced.

Assad and Maher fled to Russia in December 2024 after rebels captured Damascus. Russia gave them asylum. Syria has asked for their return, but the death sentence could make that harder. Legal experts say Moscow may be even less willing to hand over Assad if he faces execution. That leaves the verdict with a major weakness: Syria has sentenced Assad, but it cannot reach him.

Assad’s maternal cousin Atef Najib was also sentenced to death. He was present in court. Najib headed political security in Daraa in 2011 and was accused of arresting and torturing young protesters. Their detention helped spark the uprising that grew into the civil war.

The ruling was welcomed in Daraa, where people celebrated the verdict. Prosecutor Noha al-Masri, whose brother died in the conflict, said the ruling recognised the sacrifices made by Syrians.

But justice is not only about punishment. Human Rights Watch has recognised the value of accountability while opposing the death penalty and calling for fair trials. Syria must also ensure that its new justice system addresses crimes by all sides.

For Syria, the verdict is historic. The harder test starts now: can it turn a powerful ruling into real, fair justice?