Former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Monday issued his first statement since his departure to Russia less than two weeks ago.
Assad, speaking from Moscow where he sought refuge, said that 'at no time during the events that have taken place in Syria' did he intend to step down or flee, adding that he remained in the capital Damascus until the last possible moment.
He claimed to have fled in the early hours of December 8, hours before rebels from the Islamist group Ha'yat Tahrir al-Sham and other militias seized control of the capital.
In his statement, released on the official Syrian Presidential channel on the Telegram messaging account, Assad said he had decided to speak to 'address a flood of misinformation and narratives far removed from the truth'.
'My departure from Syria was neither planned nor did it occur during the final hours of the battles, as some have claimed. On the contrary, I remained in Damascus, carrying out my duties until the early hours of Sunday 8, December 2024.
'At no point during these events did I consider stepping down or seeking refuge, nor such a proposal made by any individual or party. The only course of action was in continue fighting against the terrorist onslaught,' the former president declared.
He went on to describe himself as a dedicated leader and family man who remained in Syria throughout the civil war 'alongside his people'.
'I have never sought positions for personal gain but have always considered myself as a custodian of a national project, supported by the faith of the Syrian people, who believed in its vision,' he insisted.
He concluded the statement saying he was 'filled with hope that Syria will once again be free and independent'.
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