A Sentence in Damascus and An Accused in Moscow: The Limits of Syria’s First Attempt at Accountability

On August 11, 2026, the Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus issued death sentences for former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, his brother Maher al-Assad, and their cousin Atef Najib, along with six others. In a country where the president’s office has long stood above the law, the judgment represents a milestone—the first issued by a Syrian court...