Syria’s new government suspects that two relatives of former President Bashar Assad may be in Brazil. The information reached the Syrian delegation led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa during an event in the city of Belém. However, the investigation is complicated by the fact that employees of the Syrian Embassy in Brasília who served under the previous regime continue to hold their positions.
The Assad family’s rule collapsed in December 2024 after approximately 54 years in power, beginning with Hafez Assad’s rise to power in 1970. Bashar Assad led the country from 2000 and ruled it for about 24 years. He is accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the war that began in 2011. In August, Syria’s new authorities sentenced Bashar Assad, his brother Maher, and his cousins Atif Najib and Wasim Assad to death in absentia.
One of those being sought may be the brother of Wasim Assad, who was sentenced to death in Damascus on August 18. According to the investigation, he was an engineer but wielded considerable influence in Latakia province. Syrian authorities accuse him of smuggling and illegal trading through the city’s port, as well as supporting the “True Promise” armed group operating in Syria. The second possible suspect is reportedly the son of Rifaat Assad—Hafez’s brother and Syria’s former vice president.
This relative of Rifaat Assad was placed under international sanctions because of his ties to the former regime. Since 2023, he has been subject to restrictions imposed, among others, by the European Union, Monaco, Switzerland, Belgium, and France. According to available information, both men left Syria after the regime fell in 2024, and reports later emerged that they might be in Brazil. The search is part of a broader campaign targeting members of the Assad family: Bashar and Maher are reportedly in Russia, so enforcement of their sentences depends on Moscow’s position and its cooperation with Damascus.
The Brazilian outlet Metrópoles notes that the Syrian Embassy in Brasília has largely retained its staff from the previous government. After former ambassador Rania al-Hajj Ali left, most of the employees temporarily running the mission remained in their posts. Syrian representatives believe this makes it more difficult to exchange information with Damascus, including data about the possible presence of Assad relatives. Personnel changes are expected after Brazil approves new ambassadors through the agrément procedure—the formal approval of a candidate by the receiving country.
Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the possible presence of members of the Assad family in the country does not fall within the ministry’s jurisdiction. Meanwhile, Syrian activists have demanded a review of the embassy’s status, an investigation into the activities of previous diplomatic missions, and the prosecution of employees linked to the former regime. They also called for an inquiry into who may have helped Assad’s relatives enter Brazil or provided them with protection, stressing that efforts to prosecute representatives of the former government should continue beyond Syrian territory.
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How does the agrément procedure work in Brazil, and why can Syria not quickly replace the leadership of its embassy without the receiving country’s approval? — Syria first proposes an ambassadorial candidate to Brazil, while the Brazilian authorities conduct confidential consultations and decide whether to grant agrément—formal consent to the appointment. Until this consent is received and the ambassador presents their credentials, the diplomat cannot fully assume office. Damascus therefore cannot unilaterally replace its ambassador quickly, as this would contradict diplomatic practice and the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
What legal grounds could Brazil use to deport or extradite people accused by Syria of war crimes and smuggling? — Deportation may be based on Brazil’s immigration laws, violations of visa regulations, a threat to public safety, or other grounds provided for under national law. Extradition requires a separate judicial procedure: Brazil examines whether a treaty or the principle of reciprocity applies, whether the evidence is sufficient, the nature of the crimes, and whether the accused’s rights would be respected. Accusations of war crimes do not automatically lead to extradition; the court also considers the risk of political persecution, torture, or an unfair trial in Syria.
What role did Assad family members play in Latakia province and around its port, and why was the region considered an important center of their influence? — Latakia was the Assad family’s home region and a stronghold of the Alawite community from which the ruling dynasty emerged. Relatives, along with businessmen and security structures linked to them, reportedly influenced the port, customs, trade, and smuggling routes. The port of Latakia was strategically important as Syria’s main Mediterranean channel for foreign trade and a source of revenue, while control of the coast provided the family with political, economic, and military support.
Full version: Bashar Assad’s cousins in Brazil: How Damascus’s embassy is hindering efforts to pursue them