Russian arms deals: U.S sanctions Myanmar businessmen  

The United States government has sanctioned a group of Myanmar businessmen and their company for allegedly supplying weapons to the military that seized control of the country in last year’s coup.

According to the US Treasury, Aung Moe Myint and Hlaing Moe Myint, the owners of Dynasty International, and Myo Thitsar, the company’s director, have been placed on the sanctions blacklist for buying weapons and aircraft in Belarus for the military regime.

“The sanctions announced today target those who profit from the oppressive actions of the regime by operating in the defence sectors of Burma’s economy and providing arms and other material support to Burma’s military,” the statement read.

 “These sanctions do not target the people of Burma, who have suffered under the brutal rule of the regime for far too long”.

The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, has also said that the latest sanctions took aim at the Myanmar military’s ties to Russia and Belarus.

Also Read: Russia to strengthen military ties with Myanmar

“We will continue to use our sanctions authorities to target those in Burma and elsewhere supporting Russia’s unlawful invasion of Ukraine, as well as Russia and Belarus’ facilitation of the Burmese regime’s violence against its own people,” Blinken said.

The US Department of State also placed Than Hlaing, a former police chief and deputy home affairs minister, on its sanctions list over his alleged involvement in the extra judicial killing of protests following the coup.

More than 2,300 civilians have been killed and one million people displaced since the coup led by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, according to human rights groups.

Russia is among the top suppliers of ammunitions to Myanmar military and is also one of the post coup defenders at the international level.

Samuel Omowumi Racheal