Resistance groups in Yangon have conducted a campaign posting photos of arrest warrants for military leader Min Aung Hlaing and Russian President Vladimir Putin throughout the city. The activity, which took place on March 9, was carried out to demonstrate solidarity between the people of Myanmar and Ukraine. This initiative represents a convergence of Myanmar’s anti-coup civil resistance and the international movement against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, highlighting the shared struggle against authoritarian aggression.
The campaign was organized by four allied resistance groups known as the Yangon 4 Brothers (Y4B), comprising the Linn Yaung Ni Youth Organization (LYNYO), Mayangone Democratic Front (MDF), Kyimyindaing Networks (KMD18), and the Owl Community. These organizations sought to demonstrate their opposition not only to the Myanmar military council’s violence but also to international crimes. The action was designed to emphasize that both Min Aung Hlaing and Putin are responsible for serious crimes against civilians – Min Aung Hlaing for atrocities against the Myanmar people and Putin for war crimes against the Ukrainian people.
Such activities serve multiple purposes beyond boosting the morale of Myanmar’s anti-dictatorship resistance movement. They also remind the international community that Myanmar’s struggle and Ukraine’s fight are not isolated incidents but rather part of a global battle for democracy. The participating organizations, which are youth-led groups actively involved in Myanmar’s democracy movement, continue to play a crucial role in maintaining public resistance against the military dictatorship. Their actions demonstrate the ongoing determination of Myanmar’s civil society to oppose authoritarian rule while expressing solidarity with other peoples facing similar struggles worldwide.
