Russia called Afghanistan “better” under Taliban rule, claiming that Ghani fled with a car full of cash

According to the Russian state news agency RIA Novosti, the Russian Embassy in Kabul stated that Afghanistan controlled by the Taliban is “better” compared to President Ashraf Ghani. .

The report quoted embassy spokesman Nikita Ishchenko as saying that Ghani fled the country with four cars and a helicopter full of money.

“The collapse of the regime… The most convincing feature is how Ghani escaped from Afghanistan: Four cars were filled with money; they tried to stuff another part of the money into the helicopter, but not everything was suitable. There was also some money left behind. Lie down on the tarmac,” Ishchenko said.

The Associated Press requested more details about Ghani’s departure, but was unable to independently verify Ishchenko’s claims.

The Russian ambassador to Afghanistan Dmitry Zhirnov told Radio Ekho Moskvy that “under the terrorist Taliban is better than under Ghani”, judging the capital’s capital based on the first 24 hours of the Taliban’s control of the city. situation.

Zhirnov said: “The current situation in Kabul is better than that under Ashraf Ghani.”

America president Joe Biden It is scheduled to discuss the situation in Afghanistan on Monday afternoon.

For more reports from the Associated Press, please see below.

When the Associated Press asked him how he knew about the specific details of Gani’s departure, Ishchenko said: “Well, we work here,” but did not provide more information.

Ghani left Kabul on August 15 and the Taliban swept the Afghan capital. According to media reports, the president went to neighboring Tajikistan or Uzbekistan, but his whereabouts have not been officially confirmed.

The Kremlin’s special envoy for Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov, called Ghani’s escape from Kabul “shameful” on Monday, adding that Ghani “should be brought to justice and the Afghan people should be held accountable.”

Moscow’s criticism of Ghani came at a time when tensions between Russia and the United States increased, and Ghani’s government was supported by Washington.

Moscow fought a 10-year war in Afghanistan, ended with the withdrawal of Soviet troops in 1989, and made a diplomatic comeback as a mediator. It came into contact with the United States in the process of fighting for influence in the country. The discordant Afghan faction.

It has hosted multiple rounds of talks on Afghanistan, most recently in March, involving the Taliban-even though Russia has labeled it as a terrorist organization.