In a significant move, Myanmar has pardoned over 4,000 prisoners, including former president Win Myint, while also reducing the jail sentence of deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
This mass clemency marks a notable development in the country's political landscape, where both figures had been detained following the military takeover in 2021. Win Myint, who served as president from 2018 until his ouster, was among those released under the pardon.
"Her jail sentence has been reduced," confirmed a lawyer representing Aung San Suu Kyi, though specific details about the extent of the reduction were not immediately disclosed.
The pardons come amid ongoing international scrutiny of Myanmar's human rights record and calls for the release of political prisoners. The move affects thousands of individuals across the country's prison system, though the exact criteria for selection and the full list of beneficiaries remain unclear.
Observers note that while the pardons represent a shift, many political detainees remain incarcerated, and the country continues to face challenges in its transition following the military coup.