UNITED NATIONS, February 27. /TASS/. It is counterproductive to use human rights as a tool to put pressure on countries, member of the Russian mission to the United Nations Stepan Kuzmenkov said at a UN General Assembly meeting on the human rights situation in Myanmar.

"Russia is keeping a close eye on developments in Myanmar," he pointed out. "Attempts to focus solely on the human rights aspect of recent events in the country, including the declaration of a state of emergency, are unreasonable and politically motivated," Kuzmenkov noted, adding that "resolving disagreements between Myanmar’s political forces is a purely domestic affair of this sovereign state."

Russia’s representative stressed that work on resolutions and meetings on situations in various countries were often times aimed not at building dialogue based on mutual respect but "at putting political pressure" on certain UN member states. "We can’t accept such an approach," Kuzhemnkov emphasized.

On February 1, Myanmar’s army declared a state of emergency for one year and ousted the government, citing election fraud. Several high-ranking officials were detained, including the country’s president and State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi.