Over 400 charged for ‘sabotaging’ elections; Myanmar to dominate ASEAN meeting in the Philippines

Over 400 charged for ‘sabotaging’ elections, regime reports

Regime media reported on Jan. 21 that 404 people – 324 males and 80 females – nationwide have been prosecuted under the Election Protection Law since its enactment on July 29. Sources close to the regime police force in Ayeyarwady Region told DVB that 24 residents have been arrested for “disrupting” the military’s 2025-26 elections since October.

A family member of one of the 24 residents arrested in Ayeyarwady under the law told DVB that a woman named Mya Thida from Hinthada Township was arrested for allegedly sharing a post on social media that criticized the military elections, which ended on Jan. 25. Hinthada is located 86 miles (138 km) northeast of the Ayeyarwady Region capital Pathein.

Eighty-four have been formally arrested with 269 charged and nine convicted under the Election Protection Law since July, according to DVB data. Forty-five people were arrested and 18 people faced charges under the law in Yangon Region. It carries a minimum sentence of three years in prison to a maximum penalty of death.