Myanmar Cuts Aung San Suu Kyi's Sentence by One-Sixth

Myanmar's military-backed government reduced the prison sentence of ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi by one-sixth on Thursday as part of a nationwide amnesty marking the Full Moon day of Kason, a Buddhist holiday commemorating Buddha's birth, enlightenment and death.

The measure freed 1,519 prisoners, including 11 foreigners, according to state media. It follows a similar amnesty on April 17 that released more than 4,300 inmates and cut sentences for others. Legal sources close to Suu Kyi, speaking anonymously due to security concerns, said the latest reduction applies to her remaining term, though the exact length remains unclear. One member of her legal team estimated she now faces about 18 years in prison.

Suu Kyi, 80, has been detained since February 1, 2021, when the military seized power from her elected government, ending a decade of civilian rule. She was convicted in a series of closed-door trials on charges including corruption, election fraud and violating state secrecy laws, receiving a total of 33 years. Supporters and rights groups have called the charges politically motivated to bar her from politics. Her sentence was cut to 27 years in 2023 and further reduced in...