Former Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi was found guilty of corruption in a military court on Friday and sentenced to seven years in prison. Suu Kyi was previously convicted of several other offenses, including illegally possessing walkie-talkies, violating COVID-19 restrictions, revealing state secrets, sedition, and election fraud.
Suu Kyi's previous convictions resulted in 26 years in prison before today's ruling. Suu Kyi's supporters insist that the charges against her represent a way for the military to legitimize its seizure of power while eliminating her from politics ahead of the promised elections, per the Associated Press.
The military took control over the state in February 2021, when it overthrew the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi and declared a state of emergency. The military accused the government of widespread voter fraud in the elections held three months earlier, in which Suu Kyi's party had won in a landslide.
