Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra Released

Bangkok. Former Prime Minister of Thailand Thaksin Shinawatra has been released. Former Prime Minister Shinawatra, who has been at the center of controversy and polarization in Thai politics for decades, was sentenced to one year in jail for corruption charges.

76-year-old Thaksin spent eight months in jail before being released on Monday. About 300 supporters and political allies gathered outside Bangkok's Klong Prem Central Prison to welcome him. Supporters were chanting Thaksin's name. But he refused to speak to the media.

Thaksin Shinawatra was a billionaire businessman involved in the telecommunications business. He formed his own political party in 1998 and became Prime Minister of Thailand in 2001. His government was overthrown in a military coup in 2006.

At that time, he was on a foreign trip. Since then, Thai politics has experienced intense political conflict and polarization for almost two decades. Thaksin was accused of abuse of power, benefiting his business interests, and irregularities in government lottery projects. He was convicted in his absence.

However, in 2023, he returned home and appeared in court. Although initially sentenced to eight years in jail, the King of Thailand Maha Vajiralongkorn later reduced the sentence to one year.

Citing health reasons, Thaksin was allowed to serve his sentence in a special ward of the Bangkok Police Hospital. Opponents accused him of being provided special treatment. Subsequently, in September 2025, the Supreme Court ordered him to complete his sentence in jail.

Recently, a committee of the Ministry of Justice approved his parole, citing good conduct, advanced age, and low probability of re-offending. He will be under surveillance for the next four months after his release.

He will have to stay at his home in Bangkok, wear an electronic monitoring bracelet, and report to authorities regularly.