Sources close to the Naypyidaw Prison in Myanmar’s capital told DVB that jailed State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi has been relocated from house arrest — where she had been reportedly moved to from her prison cell in April 2024 — to an undisclosed location.
Aung San Suu Kyi was arrested during the military coup on Feb. 1, 2021. She has been held incommunicado by the regime, which ousted her National League for Democracy (NLD) government, since the 2021 coup.
A source told DVB on the condition of anonymity that Aung San Suu Kyi was moved from her prison cell to house arrest at a residence used by deputy ministers in April 2024. The rumor of her relocation emerged after the National League for Democracy (NLD) denounced the regime’s 2025-26 elections on Oct. 28.
The regime scheduled elections will be held in 274 of Myanmar’s total 330 townships, according to the Union Election Commission (UEC). The first phase will be held in 102 townships on Dec. 28, the second in 100 townships on Jan. 11, 2026, and the third in 72 townships on an unspecified date, added the UEC.
The NLD governed Myanmar from 2016-2021, scoring back-to-back landslide victories in the 2015 and 2020 elections, which were regarded as “free and fair” by independent observers.
But the NLD was replaced by a military regime led by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing following the coup.
The regime’s UEC dissolved the NLD for not re-registering under the Political Parties Registration Law on March 29, 2023.
“[The regime] fears Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. They know she’s still respected by the people,” Kyaw Htwe, an NLD central committee member, told DVB. Aung San Suu Kyi is currently serving a 27-year prison sentence after being convicted of 14 criminal charges, including corruption.
Zaw Min Tun, the regime spokesperson, told pro-regime media on Oct. 19 that Naypyidaw would not permit Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) special envoys to meet with “criminals,” referring to the jailed NLD leader.
He also warned the 11-member regional bloc to uphold its principle of non-interference in member states’ internal affairs.
ASEAN has reportedly decided not to send election observers to monitor the polls despite Bangkok and Phnom Penh having already confirmed to Naypyidaw that they would support the regime’s elections.
