Bashar al-Assad, who renounced the presidency, revealed for the first time details of the evacuation from Syria.
The politician's first comment was distributed by his office on its official social media page.
The former president of Syria said that he was in the country until the evening of December 8.
When the opposition took control of almost the entire state, Assad flew out of the country to Russia.
The critical point came when armed opponents of the president entered Damascus.
Assad stated that he was still at work on the morning of December 8 and continued to carry out his presidential duties.
When the opposition broke its resistance and began to gradually penetrate the capital, Assad went to the Russian base.
The plane carrying the politician and his family took to the skies when Damascus finally fell.
Assad stressed that the media is trying to make it look like everything was planned in advance.
"I did not leave it [Syria] in the final hours of the battles. I remained in Damascus, fulfilling my duties until the morning of December 8," Assad's press service quotes him as saying.
He noted that up until that moment he had not even considered the possibility of resigning.
But events developed so rapidly that the politician had to make all decisions quickly.
He admitted that the government and army of Syria had collapsed, which forced him to leave the presidency and his country.
