The ousted Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad allegedly commented for the first time on his move to Moscow. It is suggested in a statement on the former president’s Telegram channel that he did not flee voluntarily but was pressured by the Kremlin.
The statement, written in the first person, claims Assad went to a Russian military base in Latakia after Damascus fell to rebels. There, he learned that Syrian forces had abandoned their positions.
The Kremlin supposedly decided to evacuate him to Moscow after rebels attacked a Russian airbase with drones. On December 8, Russian state media reported Assad’s presence in Moscow.
According to a Reuters report, Assad had not informed his close aides of his plans, and only after he reached Russia did his inner circle learn of his escape. Sources claim Assad initially considered fleeing to the UAE, which rejected the plan over reputational concerns.
The Telegram statement denies that Assad organized his departure in advance. Bloomberg reported that Moscow insisted on his flight to prevent a bloodbath like the fall of Libyan leader Gaddafi.
Documents viewed by The Financial Times reveal that Assad sent over 200 million euros to Moscow in 2018 and 2019, circumventing sanctions. Critics have long accused Assad of exploiting the Syrian state treasury, and these documents suggest how Russia became a haven for Assad’s funds.
In 2019, The Financial Times reported that the Assad family invested in luxury real estate in Russia.
Source: NOS