ISTANBUL / Laith al-Junaidi / Anadolu Agency

The third session of the trial of the accused Waseem al-Assad, cousin of the ousted president, concluded on Wednesday, and it was decided to set July 29 as the date for the next session.

The Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported that the third session was held under the chairmanship of Judge Fakhr al-Din al-Arian, in the Fourth Criminal Court in the capital Damascus, in the presence of representatives of national and international human rights organizations.

The agency stated that it was decided to set July 29 as the date for the next session.

Waseem al-Assad (46 years old) is the cousin of ousted President Bashar al-Assad, and is known as one of the most prominent accused of trafficking in Captagon drugs and smuggling them to neighboring countries during the era of the former regime, and is also subject to US and European sanctions.

The Syrian authorities arrested him on June 21, 2025, as part of campaigns to pursue accused of committing crimes during the era of the former regime.

These sessions come within a judicial path to pursue violations committed during the past years, within the framework of transitional justice efforts and accountability for those responsible for crimes committed against Syrians, according to the agency.

On December 8, 2024, Syrian factions took control of the capital Damascus after days of taking control of other cities, thus ending 61 years of the bloody Baath Party rule, including 53 years of the Assad family regime.