President Ashraf Ghani said he did not leave Afghanistan of his own free will and did not take money with him

The fled Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said he had not left the country of his own free will. The employees of his security service allegedly insisted on this. The politician also denied accusations of taking large sums of money with him. transfers Wednesday Al Jazeera and other media.

“Ghani said that he had to leave because he was forced by his security service, and that he left his assets and confidential documents in his homeland,” the press commented on him. video message to the Afghan people, which appeared on Ashraf Ghani’s Facebook page.

Ashraf Ghani confirmed that he is in the UAE and denied accusations that he fled with “millions of dollars in cash.” “I am accused of taking the money with me. But this is all a lie, I left the country in one shirt, turban and shoes and was able to take only a few books in one bag, ” quotes President of TASS. He called “rumors that he had a lot of money left” a lie. “You can check this by contacting the UAE customs. I didn’t even have time to change my shoes, ”the president added about his hasty flight.

The fled state leader said he would have witnessed the violence if he had decided to stay in Kabul. In doing so, he referred to the events of 25 years ago. Probably, we are talking about the death of Afghan President Mohammad Najibullah in 1996. Then the Taliban captured Kabul, after which they tortured and killed Najibullah, who ruled the country after the end of the Soviet occupation. Ghani said that if he had not left, Kabul would have experienced the same horrors that are happening in Syria and Yemen.

Ashraf Ghani also thanked the Afghan military for their resistance to the Taliban, writes India Today.

Ghani noted that events in the last days of the militants’ offensive developed “hastily.” He added that he worked to ensure a peaceful transfer of power. “Before leaving the country, I worked with the Taliban to negotiate the conditions for a peaceful transfer of power and ensure the security of Kabul,” Ghani said.

He expressed hope for the speedy achievement of peace and stability in the country, transfers Interfax. Ghani said he is consulting on returning to Afghanistan.

Ashraf Ghani also said that the leaders of Western countries have no right to condemn him. “I should not be judged by those who do not know all the details,” the politician said, commenting, perhaps, on the statements of US President Joe Biden and NATO head Jens Stoltenberg. Both politicians had previously said that the collapse of the Ghani government was caused by the “inability” of Afghan political leaders to come together to negotiate their country’s future.

The president flew out of Afghanistan on August 15, when the Taliban already controlled almost the entire country. Many regional capitals surrendered to the militants without a fight, and then the central authorities announced that they would surrender Kabul to the Taliban without resistance. Ashraf Ghani did not announce his resignation. Over the course of several days, various unconfirmed reports were received about where exactly he went. And on Wednesday it became known that he located in the UAE.

The Associated Press reported that the president left the country only with a narrow circle of confidants, without warning other political leaders of the country.

The Russian embassy in Afghanistan was involved in spreading “rumors” that Ghani had taken away large sums of money. They reported that the money was taken to the airport in several cars. “Four cars were full of money, they tried to stuff the other part of the money into a helicopter, but not everything fit. And part of the money was left lying on the takeoff field, “- said the press secretary of the diplomatic mission Nikita Ishchenko. And Afghan Ambassador to Tajikistan Mohammad Zahir Agbar accused Ghani of stealing $ 169 million from the state treasury and called on Interpol to arrest him. The diplomat stressed that by his flight, Ghani “betrayed the state and the nation.”

Afghan Vice President Amrullah Saleh said after Ghani’s flight that he is now the head of state by law. Saleh stressed that he did not leave the country and does not plan to surrender to the Taliban. He also called on citizens to join the resistance movement.

The UAE, where Ghani took refuge, is one of three countries, including Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, that recognized Taliban rule over Afghanistan between 1996 and 2001.