Russia’s deputy foreign minister has confirmed Bashar al-Assad is in the country.

Sergei Ryabkov told NBC News that Russia transported Assad there “in the most secure way possible”.

“He is secured, and it shows that Russia acts as required in such an extraordinary situation,” he said.

“I have no idea what is going on with him right now,” Ryabkov said, adding that it “would be very wrong for me to elaborate on what happened and how it was resolved”.

Asked whether Russia would hand over Assad for trial, Ryabkov said: “Russia is not a party to the convention that established the International Criminal Court.”

The Assad regime has been accused by human rights groups, whistleblowers and former detainees of attacks with chemical weapons and other war crimes, as well as murder, systematic torture and enforced disappearances.

It has previously been reported that Assad’s wife Asma and their two children are also in Moscow.