The former Syrian dictator called for medical help, whereafter his health reportedly began to deteriorate further.

The Telegram account General SVR is popular with British tabloids but has a less-than-perfect track record for truth.

Recent media reports suggest that former Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad was the target of a suspected poisoning attempt on Sunday while in Russia. Assad reportedly experienced breathing difficulties and his condition worsened significantly before medical help could arrive.

Assad’s rule over Syria is a stark example. He began his presidency in 2000 following his father’s three-decade presidency, In the beginning he was seen as a modernizing figure, but Assad’s leadership quickly became synonymous with authoritarianism,