Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra receives royal pardon, freeing him to travel abroad after years of restrictions

Thaksin Shinawatra was granted a royal pardon by King Maha Vajiralongkorn earlier this week as part of a clemency program marking Queen Suthida's birthday, wiping out the remainder of his prison sentence and removing travel curbs in place since his return to Thailand in 2023.

The pardon allows Thaksin to travel to Dubai; he had previously served as Thailand's prime minister and spent 15 years in exile in Dubai before returning to Thailand in 2023.

The broader clemency program reduced sentences for or released thousands of inmates and parolees nationwide.