Ex-president released as Myanmar commutes all death sentences in 1st such move under junta chief’s presidency

The former Burmese president was released from prison Friday as Myanmar commuted all death sentences for serving prisoners to life imprisonment, in the first such order since junta chief Min Aung Hlaing assumed the presidency earlier this month, according to media reports.

President Min Aung Hlaing signed the order reducing sentences for prisoners across the country.

Min was elected president by a military-aligned parliament early this month.

Over 4,500 prisoners, including 179 foreign prisoners, were also granted amnesty and released, according to Xinhua News.

Former President U Win Myint, who served in 2018-2021, was among those released, and reunited with his family.

The amnesty, marking Thingyan, or Myanmar New Year, applies “in consideration of public peace of mind and humanitarian grounds” to individuals serving sentences in prisons, detention centers, and labor camps for offenses committed before April 17, 2026, the order said.

It is the first such nationwide pardon under Min, who has ruled Myanmar directly since the 2021 military coup that ousted the National League for Democracy (NLD) government.

Among those imprisoned is Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of the now-disbanded NLD, who is serving a 27-year sentence after multiple convictions totaling 33 years. Her prison term has been reduced.

Min served as commander-in-chief of the armed forces, known as the Tatmadaw, from 2011 until stepping down in March to run for the presidency.

Following five years in power, Min oversaw a three-phase election process beginning in late December that resulted in victory for pro-military parties, including the Union Solidarity and Development Party.

According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma), about 30,870 people have been arrested since the 2021 coup, with some 8,700 released. The group says 7,972 people have been killed over the past five years.