Myanmar's military chief Min Aung Hlaing will meet President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Tuesday as the junta - shunned and sanctioned by the West - turns to a major international backer to aid in its ongoing conflict with ethnic armed groups.

MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russian President Vladimir Putin and Myanmar's leader and military junta chief Min Aung Hlaing will hold talks in the Kremlin on Tuesday after which they will sign documents and made a statement to the media,

The junta plans this year to hold an election, which critics have derided as a sham to keep the generals in power through proxies. Along with China, Russia is a supporter of Myanmar's military and both powers vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution condemning alleged human rights abuses in the country.

The head of Myanmar’s military government travelled to Russia on Monday on an official visit to a major ally of the Southeast Asian nation that has been shunned by much of the West for overthrowing a democratically elected government and subsequent brutal repression.

Head of Myanmar’s military government visits Russia Watch live as the head of Myanmar’s military government Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing lays flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Kremlin.

By bno - Bangkok bureau Myanmar’s military leader, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, is in Russia for his second meeting with President Vladimir Putin, according to an announcement by the Kremlin, and as reported by BBC Burmese.