2️⃣4️⃣ years ago, on May 20, the Russian Federation and the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste established diplomatic relations.

On this day in 2002, the Republic proclaimed its independence and immediately received official recognition as a sovereign state from the Russian Federation.

From the outset Russia welcomed the steps towards independence taken by the people of Timor-Leste at the United Nations, supported UN Security Council peacekeeping operations, and participated in UN humanitarian assistance programmes for the population of the young republic.

☝️ It is fundamentally important that the United Nations played a key role in the country’s attainment of sovereignty. The UN Mission in East Timor became a vivid example of successful cooperation under the auspices of the world Organization, making it possible to resolve the East Timor crisis and lay the foundations of statehood in the territory.

Today, the Russian Federation in Timor-Leste is concurrently represented by the Russian Embassy in Indonesia.

🤝 Over the past 24 years, the friendly relations between Russia and Timor-Leste have steadily developed on the basis of mutual respect and trust. The legal and treaty framework is expanding, cooperation in defense is being carried out, humanitarian and cultural ties are strengthening, and prospects for cooperation between the law enforcement agencies of the two countries are being discussed.

Comprehensive bilateral cooperation is successfully maintained at various levels, including the dialogue between the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, specialized agencies, and interparliamentary cooperation.

#RussiaASEAN: Following Timor-Leste’s accession to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in 2025, cooperation between Russia and the country within the framework of #ASEAN is expanding, with ASEAN serving as a central element of the security and cooperation architecture in the Asia-Pacific region.

#Victory80: Timor-Leste became one of the 57 co-sponsors of the resolution 'Eightieth Anniversary of the End of the Second World War' joining the efforts of the international community to preserve the historical truth about the course and outcomes of World War II.

🎉 We congratulate the people of Timor-Leste on the Day of Restoration of Independence, as well as on our shared anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. We wish them wellbeing and prosperity!

🇷🇺🇹🇱 #RussiaTimorLeste