BANGKOK — Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko arrived in Myanmar on a goodwill visit, state media reported Friday, becoming only the second foreign leader to visit the Southeast Asian country since it came under military rule in 2021.

The visit comes just a month before an election in Myanmar that has been criticized as neither free nor fair. Lukashenko’s visit is seen by critics as giving the appearance of support to the polls.

Since Myanmar's military takeover, Belarus has been a major supporter and supplier of its government, along with China and Russia. It is one of only a few countries that have been visited by Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing , the head of Myanmar’s military government, who traveled there in March and June. Like Myanmar, the government of Belarus is wide

See Full Page