MYANMAR’S former president Win Myint was freed today, as part of a broad prisoner amnesty to mark the traditional new year, local media reported.

The order, handed down by newly inaugurated President Min Aung Hlaing, applied to more than 4,500 prisoners. It was not immediately clear, however, how many of the people imprisoned for opposing military rule were included — and there was no sign that former leader Aung San Suu Kyi would be freed.

Mr Win Myint is a longtime Kyi loyalist and was elected as president in 2018. He was arrested on February 1 2021, the same day the military seized power and detained Ms Suu Kyi. 

He was later given a 12-year combined prison sentence covering several offences, which was reduced to eight years in 2023.

MRTV television reported that Mr Win Myint, who was in a prison in Taungoo township, Bago region, had received amnesty.

Among those released was film-maker Shin Daewe, who had been sentenced to life imprisonment under a counterterrorism law in January 2024.

The amnesty comes a week after Mr Min Aung Hlaing was sworn into office following an election that critics say was neither free nor fair.

Local media reported that in addition to the 4,335 prisoners pardoned, nearly 180 foreigners would be released and deported.