Myanmar’s detained former leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, has been moved from prison to house arrest, state television announced on Thursday night.

Transfer Linked to Religious Holiday

The move is part of a prisoner pardon linked to a Buddhist religious holiday and follows a reduction in her sentence. A photograph released by the government’s Military Information Team shows the 80-year-old Suu Kyi seated on a wooden bench, wearing a skirt and traditional white blouse.

Detention Since 2021 Coup

Suu Kyi has been held in detention since February 1, 2021, following the military’s seizure of power from her democratically elected government. She has not been seen publicly since then, with the last official photograph released on May 24, 2021, showing her in court.

Politically Motivated Charges

Initially sentenced to 33 years in prison in late 2022, the charges against Suu Kyi have been widely criticized by supporters and human rights organizations as politically motivated. These criticisms allege the charges aim to discredit her, legitimize the military coup, and obstruct her potential return to politics.

Amnesty Details

The announcement stated the transfer to house arrest was “to celebrate Buddha Day, to show humanitarian concern, and to demonstrate the kindness of the state.” Her sentence was further reduced by one-sixth, though the precise remaining term was not specified. Estimates suggest she still faces over 13 years of imprisonment.

This amnesty is the second in two weeks, following a pardon on April 17th that released over 4,500 prisoners. The extent to which those imprisoned for opposing military rule benefited from Thursday’s amnesty remains unclear.

Recent Developments and Concerns

The series of amnesties follows the swearing-in of Senior General Min Aung Hlaing as president on April 10th, after an election widely condemned as neither free nor fair. Min Aung Hlaing pledged to grant amnesties to foster social reconciliation, justice, and peace.

Critics view these actions with skepticism, suggesting they are primarily aimed at improving the military regime’s international image. Concerns remain regarding Suu Kyi’s health, with reports of declining health, including low blood pressure, dizziness, and heart problems, though independent verification has been impossible.

Her legal team has been denied in-person access to her since December 2022. The 2021 military takeover sparked widespread resistance, brutally suppressed by the junta, leading to a protracted civil war. Over 22,000 people remain in detention in Myanmar since the coup.

Aung San Suu Kyi, the daughter of Myanmar’s independence hero General Aung San, previously endured nearly 15 years under house arrest between 1989 and 2010, becoming a global symbol of nonviolent resistance and earning the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize.