Myanmar Moves Aung San Suu Kyi From Prison to House Arrest - Latest Photos Show Her in Good Health and Smiling

Myanmar has transferred former State Counsellor and civilian government leader Aung San Suu Kyi to house arrest following her detention for over five years since the military coup. The 80-year-old has been under military junta control with her location kept secret. Myanmar's state television reported that "the remainder of Aung San Suu Kyi's prison sentence has been commuted to serve at a designated residence."

New photographs released by state media show Suu Kyi sitting on a wooden chair with two uniformed officials beside her, marking the first public images of her in several years.

In December 2024, Suu Kyi's son Kim Aris told Reuters he had not been in contact with his mother for years and has received only limited information from others about her health problems, including heart, bone, and gum issues.

A member of Suu Kyi's legal team stated, "It's good to hear that house arrest has been confirmed, but we weren't informed directly and only learned about this from the news announcement."

After a lengthy legal process, Suu Kyi was sentenced to 33 years in prison on various charges including corruption and election fraud, as well as violations of state secrets laws. Her supporters contend these charges are politically motivated and designed to silence her. Her sentence was later reduced to 27 years, then further reduced by six years through a Myanmar New Year amnesty on April 17. Former president Win Myint, an ally and co-defendant, was released. On April 30, her sentence was reduced by one-sixth as part of a broader prison amnesty in Myanmar.

Previously, Suu Kyi had been under house arrest for 15 years under a previous military regime at her lakeside residence on Inya Lake in Yangon, where she became famous for delivering speeches to supporters gathered outside her home's gates.

Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, Myanmar's president, faces continued international pressure, including from ASEAN nations, to release political detainees since the recent elections ended. Last week, Min Aung Hlaing told Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeaw that Suu Kyi is being well cared for.