**Assad Denies Seeking Refuge**
Syria’s former dictator Bashar al-Assad has spoken out for the first time since fleeing his country. He denies ever considering leaving or seeking refuge, despite being ousted by rebel forces.
In a Facebook statement dated December 16, Assad claims he stayed in Damascus until the early hours of Sunday, December 8. He says he moved to Latakia to oversee military operations with Russian allies after rebel forces closed in on Damascus. When his own base came under attack, Assad claims Moscow requested an evacuation to Russia.
**Assad’s Version of Events**
According to Assad, Moscow asked for him to be evacuated on the evening of December 8, a day after the fall of Damascus. He denies ever considering stepping down or seeking refuge, saying he continued to fight against “terrorist” forces.
However, this contradicts reports that Assad was airlifted $250 million in cash to Russia between 2018 and 2019. The Financial Times reported on December 15 that Syria’s central bank flew nearly two tonnes of cash into the country, which were then deposited in sanctioned Russian banks.
**Assad’s Legacy**
Assad has been accused of human rights abuses during his rule, including imprisoning, torturing, and disappearing tens of thousands of Syrians. His armed forces destroyed entire cities and used chemical weapons against civilians.
In his statement, Assad claims to have always acted as a defender of the Syrian people. He says he never sought positions for personal gain, but rather considered himself a “custodian” of a national project supported by the faith of the Syrian people.
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