In a significant move ahead of next month’s election, Myanmar’s military junta has announced the release of over 3,000 political prisoners and the dismissal of charges against more than 5,500 individuals. State media reported on Wednesday that the amnesty aims to ensure eligible voters can participate freely and fairly in the December 28 multi-party democratic general election. An official from Yangon’s Insein Prison, speaking anonymously, confirmed that releases began on Thursday, though specific details about the inmates were not disclosed. Outside Insein Prison, which has long been a detention center for political dissidents, crowds gathered to welcome freed relatives and friends. It remains unclear whether former leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been held incommunicado since the 2021 military coup, is among those released. The amnesty, granted by Myanmar’s State Security and Peace Commission, covers prisoners convicted under Section 505(A) of the penal code, which criminalizes incitement to public unrest or fear. Critics argue the election will lack fairness due to the absence of free media and the imprisonment of key opposition leaders. According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, over 22,700 political detainees, including Suu Kyi, remain in custody. Suu Kyi, 80, is serving a 27-year sentence following what supporters describe as politically motivated prosecutions. The 2021 military takeover sparked widespread nonviolent resistance, which has since escalated into an armed struggle.