Where do disgraced dictators and fugitive tyrants go when their regimes collapse? Increasingly, the answer lies in Moscow. Under Vladimir Putin’s leadership, Russia has solidified itself as a haven for fallen autocrats—those whose crimes and corruption leave them exiled but still valuable in the Kremlin’s geopolitical game.

The unexpected downfall of the Assad regime in Syria has reverberated throughout the Middle East, representing a significant blow to Russia's geopolitical ambitions in the area. This volatile environment fosters further instability, and Russia, with its opportunistic foreign policy, is already scouting for new avenues to extend its influence - Libya beware!