Syria’s de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa requested that Russia hand over former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad and his close aides during discussions with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov, according to sources close to the talks, reports The Times of Israel.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declines to comment on whether that demand had been raised.

Separately, the Kremlin says Russia is working to build dialogue with the new administration in Syria as Moscow seeks to secure the future of its military bases there.

The information about the request to extradite Assad was confirmed also by Reuters’ Syrian source familiar with the negotiations.