Russia Hosts Top Myanmar Junta Official at Arms Expo
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General Maung Maung Kyaw, who is under U.S. sanctions over a Feb. 1 coup visited combat helicopters exhibition in Moscow on Thursday.
The chief of Myanmar’s air force and other military officials are visiting Moscow on Thursday to attend an exhibition displaying combat helicopters, one Russia-focused and one Myanmar-focused news outlet reported.
Russia said in March it wanted to strengthen military ties with Myanmar despite the coup, and Russia’s deputy defence minister, Mr. Alexander Fomin, met junta leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing in the capital.
Citing unnamed sources in Myanmar, the Myanmar-focused Irrawaddy news service also reported the delegation’s Moscow trip. It said it included tycoon Mr. Tay Za, whom it described as a prominent businessman and arms dealer.
Irrawaddy’s sources said the delegation would discuss “over 20 megaprojects” including procurement of arms and military hardware with Russian officials.
A representative for the HeliRussia exhibition said Myanmar was not on its list of ambassador-led delegations. She said she could not confirm the attendance of a military or other delegation.