Former Thailand Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was released from prison on Monday after spending eight months in jail on corruption-related charges.
The 76-year-old leader walked out of a Bangkok prison amid tight security and loud cheers from supporters waiting outside. Family members, including his daughter Paetongtarn Shinawatra, were present to welcome him after his release.
Thaksin had returned to Thailand in 2023 after nearly 15 years in self-imposed exile. Soon after returning, he was jailed over earlier convictions linked to corruption and misuse of power. His original prison sentence was later reduced through a royal pardon.
Authorities said he was granted parole because of his age, health condition and good conduct during imprisonment. Reports said he will remain under certain restrictions until his sentence officially ends later this year.
Thaksin remains one of Thailand’s most influential and divisive political figures. Supporters credit him for introducing welfare schemes and helping rural communities, while critics accuse him of corruption and political misuse of authority.
His release has again drawn attention to Thailand’s politically powerful Shinawatra family, which has shaped the country’s politics for years through different governments and parties.
