Ex-security chief Atef Najib appears in person while former President Bashar Assad and others face trial in absentia, marking Syria's first public prosecution of regime figures.
Syria has begun its first public trial of former Assad-era officials, with ex-security chief Atef Najib appearing in court in Damascus. Najib, who formerly headed political security in Deraa province, is charged with crimes against the Syrian people. [source]
A Damascus court is trying Najib in person while several other officials face trial in absentia. Former President Bashar Assad and his brother are among the defendants tried without their presence. [source]
Assad and his brother are thought to have fled to Russia, according to reporting on the trial proceedings. [source]
Sources
- https://www.aljazeera.com/video/newsfeed/2026/4/26/first-trial-of-assad-era-syrian-official-starts-in-damascus?traffic_source=rss — Confirmation that Syria has begun first public trial of Assad-era officials with Atef Najib appearing in court
- https://www.dw.com/en/syria-first-trial-of-assad-era-officials-opens-in-damascus/a-76944735?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf — Details on in absentia trials of Assad and his brother, information about their suspected flight to Russia
- https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/4/26/syria-puts-first-assad-era-official-on?traffic_source=rss — Identification of Atef Najib as ex-head of political security in Deraa province and charges against him