Italy condemns arrests in Myanmar after military coup

By Busra Nur Bilgic Cakmak

ANKARA (AA) – Italy on Monday joined other countries in condemning the military coup in Myanmar, and calling for the release of democratic leaders.

“Italy strongly condemns the wave of arrests in Myanmar and calls for the immediate release of Aung San Suu Kyi and all the political leaders arrested,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

“We are concerned about this abrupt interruption of the democratic transition process and we ask for the respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms to be guaranteed."

The will of people that emerged in the last elections must be respected, it added.

Myanmar’s military seized power earlier in the day, and declared a one-year state of emergency. Besides Suu Kii, President Win Myint, and other senior members of the ruling National League for Democracy party, which won a landslide victory in November 2020 elections, have been detained.

The military's move came just hours before the scheduled start of the first session of the new parliament.

The US, UK and EU have also condemned the move, calling for reversal of the military's actions.