The Head of Mission at the German Embassy in Yangon, Mathias Licharz, was summoned by the regime on Tuesday to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Naypyidaw over a video he made on Sunday to mark President Win Myint’s 75th birthday under house arrest, where he’s been held since he was released from prison in a Myanmar New Year amnesty.
“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 the embassy’s social media account on Nov. 8, filmed outside of President Win Myint’s family home in Yangon’s Tamwe Township.
The regime Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Licharz “insulted the Head of State of Myanmar and over 13.13 million voters who participated in the 2025-26 elections” by describing Win Myint as the “legitimate” president of Myanmar.
Regime Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Ko Ko Kyaw told the German envoy that if he chose to recognize President Win Myint instead of regime leader Min Aung Hlaing, then he may “wish to discontinue his service in Myanmar” without any objection from Naypyidaw.
The U.N. recognizes ousted President Win Myint and State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi as Myanmar’s elected leaders, who were detained during the military coup on Feb. 1, 2021.
Military leader Min Aung Hlaing ousted their elected National League for Democracy (NLD) administration first with a regime headed by himself following the coup from 2021-25.
He was was inaugurated president on April 10 by a pro-military administration elected during the regime’s 2025-26 polls that were dismissed as a “sham” to cement military rule by the U.N.
Licharz reported that he hasn’t been allowed to meet President Win Myint despite making a request six months ago. Win Myint was released from prison and placed under house arrest in a Myanmar New Year amnesty on April 17.
“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,” Licharz added in the video.
Win Myint was sentenced to 14 years in prison by a regime court in 2022. Aung San Suu Kyi is serving 18-years but was reportedly transferred from prison to house arrest in Naypyidaw on April 30, which hasn’t been independently verified.
“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 after he was allowed a 20-minute phone call with her—for the first time in over five years–on Oct. 22.
Aris added that his family will not be given regular access to speak or meet with his 81-year-old mother by 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 demands the immediate release of her and all 15,139 political prisoners in Myanmar documented by the Assistance Association of Political Prisoners (AAPP)—a group advocating for prisoners’ rights.
Ko Ko Kyaw demanded an explanation from Licharz over the reason behind the video and warned him that action may be taken “under international law in the event of further violations.”
