FACT CHECK: No Evidence Bashar al-Assad Is Returning To Ophthalmology

A post shared on Facebook claims that deposed Syrian leader Bashar Assad is returning to ophthalmology in Russia.

Verdict: Misleading

There is no evidence Assad will be returning to ophthalmology in Russia.

Fact Check:

Russian President Vladimir Putin promised to ask Assad for help in locating missing journalist Austin Tice after receiving a letter from Tice’s mother, according to Fox News. Assad has been in exile in Russia since his regime was deposed in a lightning rebel offensive, per the outlet.

Social media users are claiming that Assad would return to being a doctor and is planning on setting up an eye clinic in Russia. One user wrote, “Dr. Assad will return to ophthalmology after being deposed as president of Syria and plans to set up an eye clinic in Russia.”

There is no evidence for this claim. If he was looking to reestablish his track on becoming a doctor, media outlets would have covered it, yet none have. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told NBC News, “I have no idea what is going on with him right now.”

Assad released a statement on his Telegram channel where he claimed that he did not intend to step down and to continue fighting, according to Oregon Public Broadcasting Radio.

“At no point during these events did I consider stepping down or seeking refuge, nor was such proposal made by any individual or party. The only course of action was to continue fighting against the terrorist onslaught,” the statement partially reads.

There is nothing in the statement that says he planned to return to ophthalmology. Assad was training to become an eye doctor in London before he returned to Syria to take his place as heir apparent to his father after his brother had died in a car crash, according to USA Today.