Ahmed Obayed bin Dagher, Yemeni Presidential Advisor, revealed that Russia is contemplating on relieving former President Ali Abdullah Saleh from his plight in exchange of him abandoning Houthi rebels, and leaving them to their fate, or for both parties comply with peace.

Bin Dagher told Asharq Al-Awsat that he had met with the Russian Ambassador Vladimir Dedushkin, who informed him that Russia is still working within the frame of the Security Council’s resolution, and that Saleh himself represents an “issue”.

Bin Dagher and Dedushkin got together in the sidelines of a diplomatic meeting in Riyadh, “ he told me that he will be visiting Yemen to meet with Ali Abdullah Saleh, and I believe that he already did”, bin Dagher added referring to the Russian ambassador.

“Saleh has become an issue”, bin Dagher reported being told by ambassador Dedushkin, to whom he later responded with Russia’s capabilities of relieving Saleh from his plight, and advising him to exit leaving the Houthis to face their fate or comply with peace. “That’s what we are thinking of”, replied Dedushkin.

Moreover, Presidential advisor bin Dagher believes that Saleh “is looking for a way to drag Russians into Yemen. However, the visit that the Russian ambassador will be paying him will not play to his wishes. The Russians might propose for Saleh to safely exist Sana’a, given that the Americans, the British, and one of the Gulf countries have specially proposed the idea before, yet the former President refused.
Furthermore, bin Dagher adds “Saleh has felt defeat, over the past few days, perhaps for the first time he has heard the cannons close to the capital Sana’a”.

Eight months ago when the war started “there wasn’t a popular resistance in Aden, Lahij, Abyan, and several other areas. Resistance began in Taiz, and Saleh understands well the field data and that international politics is no longer what it used to be last March, and all that imposes a different way of thinking.

On the other hand, bin Dagher revealed that AbuBakr al-Qirbi,Yemen’s former Foreign Minister, will soon follow. He added that al-Qirbi is a diplomatic man, he is different from others, and he might change his current position soon.