The Embassy of Germany’s Head of Mission in Yangon, Mathias Licharz, shared a video message on Sunday marking ousted President Win Myint’s 75th birthday outside of his family home in Tamwe Township, Yangon Region. Win Myint was transferred from prison to house arrest in the capital Naypyidaw after being released on April 17.
“U Win Myint is not a free man. He’s not allowed to meet who he wants to meet. And he’s not allowed to communicate independently,” said Licharz in a video posted to social media on Nov. 8.
The United Nations still regards Win Myint the President of Myanmar and Aung San Suu Kyi as State Counsellor despite efforts by the 2021 military coup leader Min Aung Hlaing to replace the country’s democratically elected government with a pro-military administration, following 2025-26 polls that ended on Jan. 25 but were described as a “sham” to cement military rule.
“I reiterate the calls by the General Assembly of the United Nations, the Security Council, as well as my government, to unconditionally release all those who are arbitrarily detained, including U Win Myint and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi,” Licharz added.
In the video, Licharz also called on Min Aung Hlaing’s regime in Naypyidaw to start a “meaningful and genuine dialogue” to end the conflict with those who demand a return to democracy in Myanmar. He concludes his message by wishing a “happy birthday” to President Win Myint.
A source close to the ousted National League for Democracy (NLD) party told DVB that President Win Myint’s residence in Naypyidaw, as well as homes of other NLD executive members, are under “strict surveillance.”
Anyone visiting Win Myint’s residence must undergo thorough checks in advance, including identity verification, and scrutiny through a new technology implemented by the regime called the Personal Scrutinization and Monitoring System (PSMS), according to the NLD.
Myo Nyunt, the NLD spokesperson, told DVB on April 17 that Win Myint did not sign a pledge under Section 401(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, which states that if the offender re-commits they must serve both the new sentence and any remaining portion of the previous sentence.
President Win Myint was convicted by a regime court of corruption and for violating Section 130-A of the Penal Code, for “influencing” Myanmar’s electoral body, the Union Election Commission (UEC), during the 2020 general elections.
He was arrested during the military coup on Feb, 1, 2o21 and sentenced to 14 years in prison in 2022.
State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi was reportedly transferred from prison to house arrest in Naypyidaw on April 30, but this still hasn’t been independently verified.
She is serving an 18-year prison sentence reduced from her original 33-year conviction.
“As far as I’m aware she’s not in prison but she’s not under house arrest either. She’s not in her own home,” Aung San Suu Kyi’s son Kim Aris told DVB in an exclusive interview after he was allowed a 20-minute phone call with her on Oct. 22.
Aris added that he will not be given regular family access to speak or meet with her from the regime in Naypyidaw, which is a fundamental right under international law.
Aris renewed calls for Aung San Suu Kyi’s release with the “Free Her” campaign launched on Sept. 7, which urges the regime to immediately release her and all other 15,118 political prisoners in Myanmar verified by the Assistance Association of Political Prisoners (AAPP).
