Myanmar’s imprisoned former leader Aung San Suu Kyi was allowed to speak by telephone with her son, Kim Aris, for the first time in five years. Aris said he was deeply grateful to those who had helped make the call possible and urged people to continue pressing for his mother’s freedom. The call took place at Myanmar’s embassy in London, and photographs released by the military authorities showed Aris there.

Suu Kyi, 81, remains under house arrest at an undisclosed location. She was detained after the military coup that followed her party’s November 2020 election victory and was later sentenced to 20 years in a trial over election fraud and corruption. Human rights organisations and independent observers have described the case as political and said there was no evidence for the allegations. Aris said her fundamental rights were still being violated and called for her and all other political prisoners to be released immediately and unconditionally.