Overthrown dictator
Assad breaks his silence after fleeing to Moscow
Former Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad speaks out for the first time after the coup in Damascus. His escape to Russia was not voluntary.
The deposed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said he “at no time” considered resigning or fleeing the country. His departure to Moscow was “not voluntary”.
In his first public statements since his fall, the former ruler also assured that he had stayed in Damascus for as long as possible before fleeing.
“I stayed in Damascus until dawn on Sunday, December 8th and fulfilled my duty,” said the former head of state in a statement distributed in English on the Telegram online service on Monday. The entry on Assad’s Telegram channel is dated December 16 and is the first public statement since his overthrow more than a week ago. It was not initially possible to check whether the statement was genuine.
Bashar al-Assad was evacuated from a Russian base
Assad was initially transported by plane from the capital Damascus to the Russian military base at Hmeimim in the western Syrian city of Latakia.
“When terrorist forces entered Damascus, I went to Latakia in coordination with our Russian allies to oversee combat operations,” Assad reported.
But “the situation on the ground continued to deteriorate” in this area, and the Russian base itself was attacked with drones, the former head of state wrote.
Moscow then instructed the base commanders to organize his “immediate evacuation to Russia on the evening of Sunday, December 8th,” Assad continued.
The horror of the Assad regime has a name: Saidnaya
Shortly after the fall of Syria’s dictator Assad, people make their way to Saidnaya Prison. They are looking for relatives who were imprisoned there. Maybe they survived imprisonment and torture
© Emin Sansar / Picture Alliance
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Assad: “I saw myself as the guardian of a national project”
“My departure from Syria was neither planned nor did it take place during the last hour of fighting,” said Assad, describing his version of events. In doing so, he countered the claim that he had already left the country while his troops were still fighting against the Islamist militias in Damascus.
Five former government employees had previously reported to the AFP news agency that Assad had left the country hours before the Islamist group Hajat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and its allied militias took over the capital.
Assad continued: “I have never sought positions for personal gain, but have always seen myself as the guardian of a national project.” He was “unwaveringly” committed to the goal of enforcing the will of the Syrian people and protecting the Syrian state and its institutions.
Russia and Syria have been close partners for many years
The capture of Damascus and Assad’s flight to Moscow was preceded by a rapid military advance by the HTS and its allies through the country: the alliance led by the HTS began its offensive against the Assad leadership on November 27th and already on December 7th strategically important city of Homs captured. The rebels said they began encircling the capital Damascus on December 7th. A day later, Assad flew to Moscow. Assad described the new rulers in Syria as “terrorist”.
The deposed ruler is accused of massive human rights violations and war crimes, including torture and murder of dissidents and the use of poison gas in the civil war.
Russia had supported Assad for years. After his fall, Assad was granted asylum in Russia.
AFP · DPA · Reuters
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Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
