Myanmar amnesties thousands of prisoners

The mass pardon, issued by junta leader-turned-civilian president Min Aung Hlaing, also includes a blanket order to commute all death sentences.

Aung San Suu Kyi, who was serving a 27-year term, saw her sentence cut by four and a half years as part of the deal.

Critics and human rights groups remain skeptical, viewing the move as a strategic attempt to ease international pressure rather than a genuine shift toward democracy.

The civil war in Myanmar remains at a stalemate, with anti-junta forces reportedly gaining ground in several key regions.