Myanmar frees more than 4,500 prisoners in new year amnesty

More than 4,500 prisoners in Myanmar have been granted amnesty and others have had their sentences reduced under a pardon order by President Min Aung Hlaing to mark the traditional new year.

Relatives waited outside Insein Prison on Friday to await those being released.

There was no sign former leader Aung San Suu Kyi would be freed or if the pardon would include the thousands of political detainees imprisoned for opposing military rule.

The amnesty comes a week after Min Aung Hlaing was sworn into office following an election that critics say was neither free nor fair and was orchestrated to keep the military’s iron grip on power.

Prisoner releases are common on holidays and other significant occasions in Myanmar.