Myanmar’s National Defense and Security Council (NDSC) has issued two amnesty decrees ahead of the general elections. This is stated in official directives No. 10/2025 and No. 11/2025, published on the website of the Ministry of Information on 26 November.
The documents state that the decisions aim to ensure the participation of all eligible citizens in the upcoming elections, “so that no individual loses the right to free and fair voting.”
Under one decree, the authorities released 724 prisoners — men and women convicted under Article 505-A of the Penal Code, a provision often used to suppress dissent. However, the decree includes a condition: if any of the released individuals reoffend, they will have to serve both the new sentence and the remainder of the previous one. The second decree grants amnesty to 2,361 prisoners also convicted under Article 505-A. In both cases, the decisions were issued pursuant to Article 401(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
Myanmar’s general elections are scheduled for 28 December 2025.
It should be recalled that Alyaksandr Lukashenka arrived in Myanmar today for a two-day official visit. Talks are scheduled in Naypyidaw with Acting President of Myanmar and head of the National Defense and Security Council Min Aung Hlaing, both in narrow and expanded formats.
The parties intend to discuss key areas of bilateral cooperation — from agriculture and food security to industry, pharmaceuticals, and humanitarian projects. They will also review progress on agreements reached during meetings in Minsk in March and June 2025.
Following the visit, a number of documents are expected to be signed, including a roadmap for developing Belarus–Myanmar cooperation for 2026–2028.