Why Dictators Choose Countries to Flee To Wisely: 'They Usually Lack Nothing'

russia - Dictators often seek refuge in certain countries for specific reasons. Some recent examples include the ousted Syrian president Bashar al-Assad finding asylum in Russia.

The escaped and deposed Syrian president Bashar al-Assad is just one of the many dictators who have found asylum in Russia.

He denied fleeing, stating he had gone to a Russian military base in Syria to assess the situation when the base came under attack and he was evacuated to Moscow by the Russians. Assad claimed he was still willing to fight the rebels at that time, a statement that many experts find dubious.

Researchers Daniel Krcmaric and Abel Escribà-Folch noted that Russia has harbored around eight dictators over the past decades. Dictators are increasingly choosing Russia as a safe haven due to its stability as a major power and its non-membership in the International Criminal Court, reducing the extradition risk. Assad and individuals like him seek long-term protection, a need that Russia can fulfill.

Krcmaric and Escribà-Folch compiled a list of deposed leaders' destinations from 1946 to 2017, with the United States topping the list, having provided shelter to twelve dictators, especially during the Cold War. Ferdinand Marcos of the Philippines, who sought refuge in the US in 1986 and spent his later years in Hawaii, is among the most notorious cases.

According to the researchers, an ideal refuge for dictators has historical, political, or military ties with them. Assad, for instance, had a long-standing relationship with Putin. The hiding place is usually not too far away, as in the case of coup attempts, fleeing dictators prefer seeking refuge in a friendly neighboring country. Democratic regimes are usually avoided since dictators fear potential punishment or extradition.

Dictators like Hissène Habré of Chad fled to Senegal in 1990 but faced extradition when human rights organizations exposed his regime's atrocities. Financially, dictators rarely face issues, as seen with the Tunisian president Ben Ali, who fled to Saudi Arabia in 2011 with suitcases filled with American dollars and gold bars. Assad also prepared financially, including through synthetic drug production.

Former first lady Asma al-Assad reportedly joked about unpacking money, while Ferdinand Marcos managed to secure US funding for safe passage and lifelong stay in the country. The Italian journalist Riccardo Orizio interviewed seven dictators in the early 2000s, including Idi Amin of Uganda and Haïtian leader Jean-Claude Duvalier, all firm in their belief that their brutal decisions were justified, indicating little chance of Assad ever apologizing for his brutal regime.