Russia has officially supported Riyadh amid tensions between Saudi Arabia and Canada due to the detention of Saudi activists, stating that Ottawa's request for the release of women's rights activists is 'unacceptable.' On Wednesday, August 8, the Russian Foreign Ministry stated that human rights should be promoted, but this must be done with respect for what is described as the 'traditions and customs' of countries. Meanwhile, Canada claims that human rights are a 'universal' right. Maria Zakharova, the spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, stated, 'We believe that Saudi Arabia is on the path of broad social and economic reforms, and as an independent country, it has the right to decide how to proceed on this path.' Zakharova emphasized that the Russian government has 'always stressed that politicizing the issue of human rights is unacceptable.' The spokesperson added that 'what is needed is constructive proposals and consultations, not criticism from a position of moral superiority.' On August 6, Saudi Arabia expelled the Canadian ambassador after Canada called for the release of civil and women's rights activists, recalled its ambassador, and suspended new economic relations with Canada. Following this reaction, Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland stated that her country 'has always supported human rights in Canada and around the world, and women's rights are human rights.' Riyadh's response to Ottawa's request continued in the following days, with Saudi Arabia announcing on August 8 that it intends to sell its assets in Canada, recall its students, and transfer its sick citizens from Canadian hospitals to other countries. Saudi Arabia stated that Canada 'and all other countries must understand that they cannot claim to care more about our citizens' situation than the Saudi government.' However, Canada stated it is unwilling to back down from criticizing the human rights situation. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Wednesday that his country 'will clearly, strongly, and politely emphasize the need to respect human rights, both domestically and globally.'
Russia's Support for Saudi Arabia Amid Human Rights Tensions with Canada
Russia has backed Saudi Arabia in its ongoing tensions with Canada over human rights issues, particularly the detention of activists. This situation escalated after Canada called for the release of these activists, leading to Saudi Arabia expelling the Canadian ambassador and taking economic measures against Canada. The matter highlights the clash between differing views on human rights between Western nations and countries like Saudi Arabia.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Russia has publicly supported Saudi Arabia in its conflict with Canada over the detention of women's rights activists. This support came after Canada called for the activists' release, leading to Saudi Arabia expelling the Canadian ambassador and taking economic measures against Canada.
- Saudi Arabia expelled the Canadian ambassador and suspended economic relations after Canada's human rights criticism.
- Russia emphasized that human rights discussions should respect the traditions of individual countries.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The dispute reflects a broader ideological battle over human rights between Western democracies and countries like Saudi Arabia that prioritize national sovereignty and cultural traditions.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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