Russia warned against imposing sanctions on Myanmar on Tuesday, as the military junta continues its bloody crackdown on protests in the country.
Threats, pressure and using sanctions against the acting authorities in Myanmar were futile and extremely dangerous, the Foreign Ministry told Interfax news agency on Tuesday.
Such policies “only contribute to setting the parties against each other,” the ministry said, adding that it would drive people into civil war.
The U.S., Britain, European Union and Canada had already hit the military with a raft of sanctions.
The military seized control of the South-East Asian country in February after an election which Aung San Suu Kyi’s ruling party won by a landslide.
Since the coup, the military junta has violently cracked down on protests and at least 564 people have been killed, including 46 children, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), a non-profit organisation.
Nearly 2,700 people were in detention, the organisation said.
Last week, the UN Security Council called on the military to exercise restraint, while Washington said it was working on reacting to the military violence with more sanctions.
Russia called on the military not to interfere in Myanmar’s internal affairs.
At the same time, Moscow wanted to continue its military cooperation, it said.
Russia’s deputy defence minister, Alexander Fomin, attended a military parade in Myanmar just over a week ago.
dpa/NAN
