Diplomacy
Myanmar junta, Russia agree on election ‘cooperation’
Myanmar’s junta and Russia signed a memorandum for “cooperation in election activities,” raising concerns about the fairness of future polls. The junta is expected to hold elections in 2025, while critics view them as lacking legitimacy.
![](https://gutzymedia.s3.ap-northeast-2.amazonaws.com/wp/2023/07/17063244/pexels-gu-bra-6478935-1-1.png)
YANGON, MYANMAR — Myanmar’s junta and Russia have signed a memorandum on “cooperation in election activities”, state media reported Wednesday, as both governments plan for polls that critics say will be neither free nor fair.
Moscow is a close ally of the junta, providing arms and diplomatic support as Myanmar’s military struggles to crush armed opposition to its February 2021 coup.
Junta chief Min Aung Hlaing met President Vladimir Putin last year during one of several trips to Russia since seizing power. The Myanmar military has described Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine as “justified”.
Officials from the junta-stacked election commission signed a “memorandum of understanding for cooperation in election activities” with their Russian counterparts during a recent visit to Russia, the Global New Light of Myanmar reported.
The delegation “also explored Russia’s election methods, conditions for conducting elections, campaign procedures”, the newspaper said.
The head of Russia’s election commission had also invited Myanmar to observe presidential elections scheduled for next year.
That vote is expected to prolong Putin’s rule until at least 2030, with many of his critics in jail or in exile.
Myanmar’s military has justified its putsch with unsubstantiated claims of widespread fraud in 2020 elections won resoundingly by Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD).
The junta will likely hold fresh polls in 2025, a senior official from a military-backed party told AFP earlier this month.
The United States has said any elections under the junta would be a “sham” and analysts say they would be targeted by the military’s opponents.
Russia has said it backs the generals’ plan for polls.
Suu Kyi’s NLD — which has trounced military-backed parties in every election it has fought — was dissolved earlier this year for failing to re-register under tough new military-drafted electoral rules.
The coup ended a 10-year democratic experiment and plunged the country into turmoil.
Fighting between the military and its opponents has displaced almost two million people, according to the United Nations.
— AFP
![](https://gutzy.asia/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Gutzy-Logo-whiteS.png)
-
Singapore3 days ago
Dr Tommy Koh: “INCOME and Fairprice should never be sold”
-
Business1 day ago
Concerns over conflict of interest and corporate governance arise in Income’s sale to Allianz
-
Singapore2 weeks ago
Youngest self-radicalised Singaporean and 33-yr-old former public servant issued restriction order under ISA
-
Comments2 weeks ago
Voters interviewed at West Coast GRC, expressed hope for PSP representation in Parliament
-
Singapore2 weeks ago
Singapore’s birth rates decline by 5.8% as total fertility rate drops below 1
-
International2 weeks ago
Attempted assassination at Donald Trump rally in Pennsylvania: Shooter and one attendee dead, two critically injured
-
Singapore1 week ago
AGO Report reveals lapses in MOE’s school projects; Police report filed over possible falsifications
-
Singapore1 day ago
NTUC Enterprise Chairman assures affordable insurance for lower-income customers amid Allianz deal concerns
Myanmar has already shown the bird to ASEAN.
It is a question of time when the generals would just up and leave ASEAN “for inteferring in Myanmar’s domestic affairs”
Hahaha888hahahaha88hahaha, … might as well be N Korea or CommChina !!!
Myanmar have certainly chose well, … and shown the world where it’s heading, if people aren’t already aware !!!