Elected Myanmar President U Win Myint Freed After Five Years in Junta Jail

Myanmar’s last democratically elected president, U Win Myint, was freed on Friday under a traditional New Year amnesty after more than five years in junta detention. On release from prison, he reunited with his family in Naypyitaw and insisted he had broken no laws.

The ousted president was arrested in the early hours of the February 1, 2021 coup along with State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, elected lawmakers, and members of the elected National League for Democracy (NLD) government. He was later sentenced to nine years and six months on corruption and other charges widely dismissed as politically motivated.

The UN, ASEAN, and the wider international community repeatedly called for the duo’s release following the military takeover. However, coup leader Min Aung Hlaing waited until a week after being sworn in as president by the military‑installed parliament to free U Win Myint.