Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has been fully released from the remainder of his prison sentence after receiving a royal pardon that brought an early end to his parole period.
Thailand’s Justice Ministry confirmed that Thaksin was among those granted clemency under the 2026 Royal Pardon Decree endorsed by King Maha Vajiralongkorn in conjunction with Queen Suthida’s birthday celebrations. The pardon effectively removed the remainder of his sentence, allowing him to regain full freedom.
The 76-year-old political heavyweight returned to Thailand in August 2023 after 15 years in self-imposed exile. Upon his return, he was sentenced to prison on charges related to abuse of power and conflicts of interest, although his original eight-year sentence was later reduced to one year through an earlier royal pardon.
Thaksin was released on parole after serving several months of his sentence and was required to comply with conditions including electronic monitoring and regular reporting to authorities. Those restrictions have now been lifted following the latest pardon.
The development marks the end of Thaksin’s legal obligations related to his prison term, closing a significant chapter in the career of one of Thailand’s most influential and polarising political figures.
