Myanmar releases first images of ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi since 2021 coup
On 3 August 2026, Myanmar’s military government released the first public images of ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi since the February 2021 coup. The photos show the 81‑year‑old Nobel laureate meeting Arnaud de Baecque, the ICRC’s resident representative in Myanmar – the first publicly confirmed contact between her and a foreign official in over five years. Her son Kim Aris called it a “first positive step” but sought independent proof of her health; analysts link the timing to junta chief Min Aung Hlaing’s upcoming visit to Thailand, suggesting Suu Kyi may be used as a diplomatic bargaining chip. AI checks found no evidence the images were fabricated.