MOSCOW, August 6. /TASS/. A diplomatic conflict between Riyadh and Ottawa, which has led to the expulsion of the Canadian ambassador from Saudi Arabia, has been coming for a long time due to deep disagrements over the human rights situation and the Yemen crisis, Middle East and North Africa Program Coordinator at the Russian International Affairs Council Ruslan Mamedov told TASS on Monday, adding that the recent arrests of Saudi civic activists were only a pretext.

"I think that there are differences in views on the Yemen crisis at some level but attempts are being made not to make them public," he said. "However, the recent arrests are a thing that everyone can see. Moreover, as far as I understand, some of the arrested activists have family members who reside in Canada as political refugees," Mamedov noted. "At the same time, the crisis was triggered not only by disagreements over human rights defenders but also by differences at a more serious level, which concern regional affairs," he said.

Human rights violations

The Russian expert pointed out that the human rights issue had been a reason for tensions between the two countries for a long time. "Riyadh chose to give a tough response after Canada’s embassy in Saudi Arabia had expressed concern about the recent arrests of human rights defenders. Riyadh said that it was an interference in the Kingdom’s domestic affairs," the analyst noted.

According to Mamedov, "an interference in domestic affairs" is an important phrase and a cornerstone of Saudi Arabia’s foreign policy. He added that such incidents always sparked tough response from Saudi authorities.

"They usually say it to accuse Iran of destabilizing the situation in the Gulf monarchies, particularly by acting through the Shia population Tehran has influence on," Mamedov explained. "This is an old phrase and everyone has grown tired of it but the interesting thing is that it is now being used with regard to Canada that, according to the Saudis, is also interfering in the Kingdom’s internal affairs."

Criticism of Yemeni operation

According to the Russian expert, Canada’s criticism of the Saudi-led coalition’s activities in Yemen may be one of the main reasons for diplomatic tensions between Ottawa and Riyadh.

"The Yemen issue has been weighing on relations between Saudi Arabia and Canada, as well as on Saudi Arabia’s relations with a part of the western world that believes there is absolute chaos in Yemen and the Saudi-led coalition is only carrying out bombing raids, particularly targeting civilians," the Russian expert said. "Canada was one of the countries that launched a rather large-scale campaign last year if not earlier in order to draw attention to the Yemen crisis. Canada is trying to make its position clear to the global community that the so-called Saudi-led coalition’s policy in Yemen has been totally destructive from the moral standpoint," Mamedov stressed.

Diplomatic scandal

On August 3, Canada’s Foreign Ministry expressed concern about the arrest of civic activists in Saudi Arabia and demanded that they be immediately released.

On Monday, the Saudi Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Canada’s position was an open interference in the country’s domestic affairs and a violation of international law and all the agreements governing relations between states. Riyadh recalled its ambassador to Canada for consultations, declared the Canadian ambassador to Saudi Arabia persona non grata and suspended all new trade and financial dealings with Ottawa. The Canadian ambassador was ordered to leave the country in 24 hours.

Yemen conflict

The war between Yemen’s government, recognized by the global community, and the Houthi rebels from the Ansar Allah group has been raging since August 2014. The conflict entered an active phase when a Saudi-led coalition invaded the country. Saudi Arabia, supported by the air forces of Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, is involved in a military operation against the rebels. Egypt, Jordan, Morocco and Sudan are also part of the coalition.

According to the Yemeni Center for Human Rights and Development, in the first 800 days of bombings, more than 12,500 civilians were killed. The United Nations says that three-thirds of the Yemeni population - 22.2 mln people - are in need of aid, while seven mln are facing the risk of starvation.