US Denies Parallels Between Ousters of Presidents in Yemen, Ukraine

US State Department spokesperson Marie Harf was quick to deny any parallels between the ouster of Ukrainian President Victor Yanukovych and Yemeni President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Conditions surrounding the ouster of Ukrainian President Victor Yanukovych and Yemeni President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi are entirely different, US State Department spokesperson Marie Harf said.

“I’m not going to draw parallels here,” Harf stated on Friday when asked about similarities between Hadi’s and Yanukovych’s removal from office.

Harf argued that Hadi escaped Yemen’s capital Sanaa “because of the security situation” there.

She would not confirm whether or not Yanukovych faced similar threats to his life and safety when he left Kiev in February 2014.

“Last time I checked, major parts of Kiev weren’t being taken over by an armed rebel group when President Yanukovych left, so I think it’s pretty different,” Harf stated, referring to the Houthis who seized control of Sanaa and other parts of Yemen.

The United States maintains that Hadi remains the legitimate leader of Yemen, following the Houthi takeover of the country’s capital in September 2014 and Hadi’s departure.

The United States is currently supporting airstrikes on Yemen by a Saudi Arabian-led military coalition aimed at restoring control of Yemen to President Hadi.

In Ukraine, the increasingly violent demonstrations in Kiev and alleged threats to Yanukovych’s life resulted in the United States recognition of a transition of power in the country. Following the Ukrainian President’s ouster in February 2014, protesters seized control of the presidential residence in Kiev.

Moscow has repeatedly accused the United States of sponsoring the coup in Ukraine which led to the ouster of Yanukovych.