Putin hosts Myanmar's leader at Kremlin

MOSCOW, Aug 19: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday hosted Myanmar's leader Min Aung Hlaing at the Kremlin, the ex-junta chief's first visit to Moscow since taking office as civilian president.

Russia was one of the few countries that backed Myanmar after the 2021 military coup that ousted the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi, triggering a civil war estimated to have killed more than 100,000 people. Min Aung Hlaing was installed as Myanmar's president in April following stage-managed elections dismissed as a sham by Western nations and democracy watchdogs.

"Currently, the relations between our countries are developing swiftly," Min Aung Hlaing said, addressing Putin through an interpreter in a gilded Kremlin hall.�"AFP