Syria’s former president Bashar al-Assad says he never intended to flee to Russia – in what would be his first statement since the fall of Damascus eight days ago.
Assad’s reported statement was posted on the Syrian presidency’s Telegram channel on Monday, although it is not clear who is currently controlling it – or whether he wrote it.
In it, he says that when the Syrian capital fell to rebels, he went to a Russian military base in Latakia province “to monitor combat operations” but saw that Syrian troops had abandoned their positions.
Hmeimim air base was also “under increased attack by drone strikes” and the Russians had decided to airlift it to Moscow, he said.
In the statement – published in both Arabic and English – the former Syrian leader reportedly describes what happened on December 8 – and how he apparently came under siege at the Russian base.
“As there were no feasible means to leave the base, Moscow requested the base command to arrange an immediate evacuation to Russia on Sunday evening, December 8,” the statement read.
“This took place one day after the fall of Damascus, following the collapse of the last military positions and the resulting paralysis of all remaining state institutions.”
The statement adds that “at no time during these events did I consider resigning or seeking refuge, nor was any such proposal made by any individual or party”.
“When the state falls into the hands of terrorism and the ability to make a meaningful contribution is lost, every position loses its purpose,” the report says.
Assad was nowhere to be seen as Syrian cities and provinces fell within 12 days to rebels led by the Islamic militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).
However, there was speculation that he had fled the country as even his Prime Minister could not contact him during the rebel attack on Damascus.
On December 9, Russian media announced that he had been granted asylum there – although there has been no official confirmation.
The Syrian rebel groups continue to form a transitional government.
HTS, Syria’s most powerful rebel group, was founded in 2011 under a different name, Jabhat al-Nusra, and pledged allegiance to al-Qaeda the following year.
Al-Nusra cut ties with al-Qaeda in 2016 and later adopted the name HTS when it merged with other factions. However, the UN, the US, Britain and a number of other countries continue to label it a terrorist group.
Leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, who previously used the nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, has pledged tolerance for various religious groups and communities. But his group’s jihadist past casts doubt on whether it will deliver on such promises.
UN envoy Geir Pedersen, who met al-Sharaa on Sunday, said Syria must have a “credible and inclusive” transition.
Qatar has also sent a delegation to Syria to meet transitional government officials ahead of the embassy’s reopening on Tuesday, 13 years after it was closed.
Western countries have not yet gone so far as to reopen their embassies, but in the past two days the US and Britain said they had been in contact with HTS. The British government made it clear that the Islamist-led rebel group remains a banned terrorist organization despite beginning “diplomatic contact” with the group.
Kaja Kallas, the EU’s foreign policy chief, said on Monday that Moscow and Tehran “must have no place in Syria’s future”.
