Russia reveals Afghan president escaped from Kabul with 4 cars, chopper loaded with money

The Russian Embassy in Kabul on Monday revealed that the ousted President of Afghanistan, Ashraf Ghani, ran away from Kabul with four vehicles and one helicopter fully loaded with money.

Ashraf Ghani had abandoned the Presidential Palace in Kabul on Sunday for possession by the Taliban militia that overthrew his government. The Afghan president said that he left the seat of power to avoid bloodshed in the country.

Ashraf Ghani, who is 72 years old, on a Facebook post declared: “To avoid bloodshed, I thought it would be better to leave.”

However, the vice president resisted to succumb to cowardice, vowing to fight the Taliban and regain control of the government.

The deposed Afghan president, former World Bank academic, did not disclose the destination he was going. However, there were indications that he fled to Uzbekistan.

Meanwhile, Russia has decried the manner the Afghan president fled the country, abandoning government for the Taliban. According to Nikita Ishchenko, a Russian Embassy spokesperson in Kabul, “As for the collapse of the (outgoing) regime, it is most eloquently characterized by the way Ghani fled Afghanistan.”

Ishchenko also revealed: “Four cars were full of money, they tried to stuff another part of the money into a helicopter, but not all of it fit. And some of the money was left lying on the tarmac.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s special representative on Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov, had earlier noted that it was not clear how much money the fleeing government would leave behind.

according to Kabulov, “I hope the government that has fled did not take all the money from the state budget. It will be the bedrock of the budget if something is left.”

Meanwhile, Russia on Monday, indicated that its ambassador to Afghanistan will consult with the Taliban on Tuesday, thereafter, Russia will determine  whether to recognize the new government based on its conduct.

Russian Foreign Ministry official, Zamir Kabulov, was cited to have stated:  “Our ambassador is in contact with the Taliban leadership, tomorrow he will meet with the Taliban security coordinator.”