Myanmar coup leader Min Aung Hlaing returned to the country after a week-long visit to Russia, where he visited an arms factory and strengthened ties with one of his few remaining allies after the Feb. 1 coup, EFE reported.

During his trip, Min Aung Hlaing took part in a security conference, met senior Russian military officials, and visited the headquarters of state-owned arms exporter, Rosoboronexport.

Although no arms deal has been reported, both countries declared their intention to strengthen bilateral cooperation after the meeting between Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev and the Myanmar coup leader.

During his address at the 9th Moscow Conference on International Security, Min Aung Hlaing described the coup as an attempt to restore the democratic system that the previous government had “degraded.”