NAYPYITAW—A Myanmar military delegation led by commander-in-chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing that attended a military parade in Russia underwent tests for the coronavirus and all members tested negative, according to military spokesman Brigadier-General Zaw Min Tun.
The military delegation arrived back in Myanmar on June 25 after attending the 75th annual Victory Day parade in Moscow, which commemorates the surrender of Nazi Germany at the end of World War II in 1945.
“Nasal swabs from the commander-in-chief and the 15 members of the delegation, as well as from 22 military personnel who returned from training in Russia with the delegation, were tested for the coronavirus. All of them tested negative,” the military spokesperson said.
Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing’s visit to Russia is expected to foster ties between the two armed forces, according to political observers. Ten presidents, defense ministers and military chiefs from countries around the world attended the event in Russia.
Serbian Defense Minister Aleksandar Vulin, who also attended the event in Moscow, tested positive for the coronavirus, prompting calls on social media for the Myanmar military delegation to be tested.
The Myanmar military said earlier that COVID-19 health screenings would be applied to the Myanmar delegation before their departure and after their return from Russia.
During his visit to Russia the senior general met high-ranking officials of the Russian Defense Ministry, received an honorary medal “for strengthening military cooperation” conferred by the ministry, and also held private talks with the Indian defense minister.
Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko
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