Former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra released after 8 months in prison

Thailand’s former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra was released on parole on May 11, 2026, after serving eight months in jail for an abuse of power conviction. The 76-year-old was greeted with hugs by his three children, including daughter and former prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra. Supporters were also on hand as he left the central Bangkok prison where he had been held since September 2025.