Members of the Syrian President Assad's family are accused of owning nearly $ 40 million in real estate in Moscow's business district.

Global Witness, a UK-based group that investigates corruption related to human rights violations, released on November 11 the report said some members of the Makhlouf family, cousins of Syrian President Bashar al -Assad, bought real estate in Moscow as a way of money laundering from Syria to Russia.

The Makhlouf family, headed by Assad's uncle Mohammed Makhlouf, is considered one of the wealthiest and most powerful families in Syria. Some family members have been punished by the European Union (EU) and the United States for their involvement in the Assad government and accused of suppressing peaceful protesters.

According to the report, 6 family members bought at least 19 apartments worth nearly US $ 40 million in two skyscrapers in the flashy commercial district in the Russian capital Moscow from 2013 to 2019. Hafez Makhlouf, who headed Division 40 of the Syrian General Intelligence Department until 2014, is believed to have spent $ 22.3 million on assets in the towers. He was punished by the EU in 2011 for allegedly suppressing protesters, just before the Syrian civil war.

Other deals were made by the wife and sister-in-law of Rami Makhlouf, Syria's most famous businessman and owner of the national telecom company Syria Tel. Rami Makhlouf was punished in 2011 for allegedly funding the Assad government.

The twins Iyad, an intelligence official, and Ihab, SyriaTel's vice president, both own properties in Moscow. An unnamed sister of these two brothers also participated in the deal.

Global Witness said its investigation found 11 apartments were used to secure loans from Lebanese companies in a complex process, alluding to money laundering efforts from Syria to Moscow and moving to the EU. Russia's largest bank Sberbank is believed to have provided services to at least one of the Russian real estate companies involved.

"Sberbank's agreements with the Makhlouf family are part of a larger model of major Russian banks helping the Syrian regime," Global Witness said, citing reports from 2012 and 2013. The group also said that Assad's government holds accounts at Russia's VTB and Gazprombank banks.

Sberbank has not yet commented on the information. This bank has stated to maintain a zero-tolerance policy for non-transparent transactions.

Makhlouf family members also declined to comment on Global Witness's report.