Myanmar’s junta leader, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, flew to Moscow on Sunday to attend the Moscow Conference for International Security and meet Nikolai Patrushev, Russia’s Security Council secretary. In their meeting on Monday, the leaders committed to strengthening security and “other ties” between their countries. However, the details of the discussions have not been released by either side.
Voice of America reported that Myanmar’s state-run MRTV devoted the first 10 minutes of its daily evening newscast to show footage of Min Aung Hlaing’s Russia trip. The coverage included the general being received by officials at the airport, his meeting with the Russian Security Council, posing for pictures, shaking hands, and exchanging gifts with members of the council before attending a ceremony at a Buddhist temple in Moscow.
The MRTV report also stated that Min Aung Hlaing and Patrushev discussed furthering security cooperation between the two countries. To this end, the two sides agreed to maintain “a good relationship” between their militaries. The report added that the military general was attending the meet on “the invitation of the Russian Defence Minister,” and that he was “greeted” at the airport by the Russian ambassador to Myanmar.
General Min Aung Hlaing’s Moscow trip is his second international visit after overthrowing the democratic government in a military coup on February 1. During his first international visit to Indonesia in April for the Special Summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the members released a five-point consensus urging the leader to end the violence that has killed more than 800 civilians since February. Moreover, former State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, President Win Myint, and several members of parliament (MPs) from the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) remain in detention, despite international pressure to release them.
Historically, Russia has supported and shielded Myanmar against international backlash for its aggressions against democracy. Being a permanent member of the 15-member United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has allowed Russia to repeatedly veto or delay resolutions condemning the coup and instituting arms embargoes. Moscow is also motivated by the desire to protect its vested interests in Naypyitaw, as it is the second-largest arms supplier to Myanmar’s military. Moreover, Moscow also provides army training and university scholarships to thousands of Burmese soldiers, and Russian representatives regularly attend military parades and diplomatic events in Myanmar. Such blatant show of support has further encouraged the Myanmarese military to strengthen its hold on power.
Rights activists have accused Moscow of extending legitimacy to Myanmar’s military junta by inviting it to such events and participating in the military’s events. However, Euronews cited Interfax’s report that despite the close ties, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that President Vladimir Putin would not be meeting Min Aung Hlaing during the junta leader’s three-day visit to Russia.
Russia and Myanmar Agree to Increase Security Cooperation in Moscow Meeting
Myanmar’s General Min Aung Hlaing met Nikolai Patrushev, the secretary of Russia’s Security Council, and agreed to boost security cooperation between the two countries’ militaries.
June 22, 2021
SOURCE: VADIM SAVITSKY / RUSSIAN DEFENCE MINISTRY PRESS OFFICE/ TASS