Myanmar's former President U Win Myint walked free from Taungoo prison in central Myanmar on Friday after the military government granted him amnesty. The 74-year-old, a close ally of ousted leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, had been detained since the military coup on February 1, 2021.

State media announced the pardon from President Min Aung Hlaing, who approved the release of more than 4,300 prisoners to mark the Thingyan water festival and traditional New Year. The amnesty also included reductions of one-sixth for sentences under 40 years and commutation of all death sentences to life imprisonment. Win Myint received a pardon for his post-coup convictions, which included a nine-and-a-half-year sentence for inciting opposition to the military, corruption, and violating COVID-19 rules.

Born in 1951, Win Myint rose through the National League for Democracy (NLD), serving as a Pyithu Hluttaw speaker before Suu Kyi selected him as president in 2018, a largely ceremonial role due to constitutional restrictions on her. He had previously been imprisoned for his role in the 1988 pro-democracy uprising and won a seat in the annulled 1990 election. During his 2021 trial, he testified that senior generals pressured him to resign hours before the coup, which he refused.

The release comes a week after Min Aung Hlaing, the coup leader, was sworn in as president on April 10 following junta-organized elections in December and January and a parliamentary vote on April 3. Pro-junta parties dominated the vote, which excluded opposition groups amid ongoing civil conflict.

Suu Kyi's 27-year sentence was reduced by about 4.5 years, or one-sixth, but she remained in detention with her location undisclosed. Her lawyer noted uncertainty over whether the balance would be served under house arrest. The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners estimates over 14,200 political detainees, with totals exceeding 22,000.

This is the third major amnesty in six months, following releases tied to holidays like Independence Day. Less than 14 percent of post-coup amnesties have involved political prisoners. No immediate statements emerged from Win Myint or the junta on his plans.