Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has faced a series of charges since being detained in a coup in early 2021. Her trials came to an end on Friday, capping months of legal proceedings.
Myanmar gets resources and ammunition, while Russia gets a customer at a time when it is struggling for revenues. Both can use the other to undermine Western sanctions.
The elected civilian leader, who was detained in a military coup last year, was sentenced to five years in prison in a corruption trial that was closed to the public.