The overthrown war criminal - dubbed the "butcher of Syria" after mass killings, chemical weapons attacks and ethnic cleansing campaigns - was whisked to Russia last weekend as the militant Haya al-Kashir al-Sham group closed in on capital Damascus.
Regional expert Megan Sutcliffe, of the Sibylline strategic risk group, said: "Assad is a Russian chip that could possibly serve in future, particularly in negotiations with the Syrian government regarding the status of Russian forces in Syria.
"The moment he becomes more of a liability, he will be in substantial danger." Assad boasts a fortune of £1.5billion in offshore accounts and shell corporations, and already owned 18 apartments in Moscow's sleek skyscraper district.
But although he was once famously pictured embracing Putin in Sochi, the Kremlin has let it be known Assad begged for sanctuary. And there have been no public displays of affection between Putin and Assad this time.
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