Main image: Myanmar Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing at military parade
Khin Yi, the chairman of Myanmar's largest political party, the Union Solidarity and Development Party, has called on Russia to recognize the armed conflict in the country as "terrorism" and to assist the military junta in eliminating supporters of the government that was overthrown in 2021.
"What is happening must be seen not as internal political disputes but as terrorism. If you recognize it as terrorism, then your agencies and bodies dealing with counter-terrorism can join us and help us achieve our goals," Khin Yi said in an interview with RIA Novosti.
The UN Human Rights Commission classifies the situation in Myanmar as a civil war. However, Khin Yi argues that armed supporters of the ousted government threaten not the junta but the civilian population.
He noted that national security issues around the world are "smoothly transitioning into regional and sometimes even global" concerns. Therefore, Khin Yi urged Russia to "examine the truth" about the situation in Myanmar and support its current authorities.
In June 2024, the Union Solidarity and Development Party signed a cooperation agreement with United Russia. Khin Yi stated that they plan to jointly combat terrorism, Western "neo-colonialism," and sanctions.
The military coup in Myanmar occurred in early 2021. On February 1, the army announced its takeover of power, detaining President Win Myint, Foreign Minister Aung San Suu Kyi, and leaders of the ruling National League for Democracy. The junta claimed the coup was a response to "fraud" in the parliamentary elections of November 8, 2020.
Twenty-four ministers and their deputies lost their positions. Actual power was transferred to the commander-in-chief of the Myanmar armed forces, Min Aung Hlaing, who headed the State Administrative Council — the new governing body. A state of emergency was also declared, which remains in effect.
According to the UN, by June 2024, at least 5,280 civilians in Myanmar had been killed by the military, including 1,022 women and 667 children. Another 26,865 people have been arrested, with 20,592 still in custody.
