MOSCOW, September 29 (RIA Novosti) – Russian Foreign Ministry on Monday recommended the country’s citizens to immediately leave Yemen and avoid travelling there amid security concerns.
“In light of insecurity in the Republic of Yemen, we once again strongly recommend that citizens of the Russian Federation avoid travelling to Yemen and those who are already there should immediately leave the country,” the statement by the ministry said.
Moscow believes it would be possible to overcome the political crisis in Yemen only by finding compromises between the conflicting sides, the ministry said.
The Houthis, a Shiite insurgent group operating in Yemen, have been protesting against the incumbent government since mid-August, calling for economic and political reforms. Hundreds of residents were forced to flee the capital of the country for fear of escalation in violence when the riots grew in intensity last weeks.
On September 21, the Houthis took control over the capital of Sanaa. Around 300 people were killed during last week's clashes between the government forces and followers of the Houthi movement.
Over the weekend, the Houthis and the Yemeni government signed an agreement to end days of fighting, but the rebels remain in control of much of Yemen's capital and continue to occupy a number of governmental buildings.
