Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was released from Klong Prem Central Prison in Bangkok on 11 May 2026 after qualifying for parole under general criteria. He emerged from the prison at about 7.40am, embraced members of the Shinawatra family and supporters, and later travelled to report to probation authorities before returning home.

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Supporters in red shirts gathered outside the prison from the early hours of 10 May, lining the pavement along the prison walls to welcome Thaksin. The atmosphere remained lively throughout the morning as politicians, family members and supporters assembled ahead of his release.

Senior figures from Pheu Thai Party arrived at around 6.00am, including Phumtham Wechayachai, Somsak Thepsutin, Wisut Chainarun, Kattiya Sawatdiphol, Chusak Sirinil, Jiraporn Sindhuprai, Monporn Charoensri and Sorawong Thienthong. Former red-shirt leader Nattawut Saikua and lawyer Winyat Chatmontree were also present.

At about 7.30am, members of the Shinawatra family arrived, including Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Panthongtae Shinawatra and Pintongta Shinawatra Kunakornwong. When Thaksin exited the prison shortly afterwards, dressed in a white shirt and long trousers, he first embraced Paetongtarn before greeting relatives, party members and supporters gathered outside.

Thaksin then stood at attention to pay respect during the national anthem ceremony at the flagpole on the prison grounds. He later greeted supporters once more before departing the prison compound by car.

His release follows approval for parole after meeting the Department of Corrections criteria. Before returning home to Chan Song La residence, he travelled to the Bangkok Probation Office 1 in Bang Khun Non to formally report as required under corrections regulations.

Khaosod reported that the release is expected to remain a major political talking point in Thailand, given Thaksin’s long-standing influence over Thai politics and the ruling Pheu Thai Party. Supporters welcomed his release warmly, while attention is likely to focus on his future public role and political involvement in the coming weeks.

Pictures courtesy of Khaosod

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Adapted by ASEAN Now Khaosod 11 May 2026

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im so happy, im gonna celebrate with couple of beers and ciggies tonight boys

He looks ghastly.

Like some bad dream from Thailand's past.

Barbaric to put a 77 years old man in prison. We are in 2026..

Most excellent, Congrats P'Thaksin.

Tony should have just bitten the bullet, come home, done his time, and he'd be as free as a bird like he is now. I can respect that.
Instead - the hospital fiasco, larping as a poor dying man needing 24/7 care in the penthouse suite of a hospital. Can't respect what he attempted to pull off at all.

Yingluck should take a lesson here. Come home, do your time, get paroled, then visit your grandkids.

None of the Shins should be allowed anywhere near politics, but? I'm sure he'll be turning the levers of Thai power soon enough.

Must be a good life in the nick, he's put weight on

26 minutes ago, Peter Crow said:

Barbaric to put a 77 years old man in prison. We are in 2026..

Barbaric to put a 77 year old man billionaire in prison. The rest of the poor 77 years olds plebs in remand? Tough luck for you commoners.

There - fixed it!

Unreal to watch the local news this morning.

Many buses from Isaan and I guess also Chiang Mai. People rushing to welcome their hero.

1 hour ago, Georgealbert said:

Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was released from Klong Prem Central Prison in Bangkok on 11 May 2026 after qualifying for parole under general criteria. He emerged from the prison at about 7.40am, embraced members of the Shinawatra family and supporters, and later travelled to report to probation authorities before returning home.

Get today's headlines by email

Supporters in red shirts gathered outside the prison from the early hours of 10 May, lining the pavement along the prison walls to welcome Thaksin. The atmosphere remained lively throughout the morning as politicians, family members and supporters assembled ahead of his release.

Senior figures from Pheu Thai Party arrived at around 6.00am, including Phumtham Wechayachai, Somsak Thepsutin, Wisut Chainarun, Kattiya Sawatdiphol, Chusak Sirinil, Jiraporn Sindhuprai, Monporn Charoensri and Sorawong Thienthong. Former red-shirt leader Nattawut Saikua and lawyer Winyat Chatmontree were also present.

At about 7.30am, members of the Shinawatra family arrived, including Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Panthongtae Shinawatra and Pintongta Shinawatra Kunakornwong. When Thaksin exited the prison shortly afterwards, dressed in a white shirt and long trousers, he first embraced Paetongtarn before greeting relatives, party members and supporters gathered outside.

Thaksin then stood at attention to pay respect during the national anthem ceremony at the flagpole on the prison grounds. He later greeted supporters once more before departing the prison compound by car.

His release follows approval for parole after meeting the Department of Corrections criteria. Before returning home to Chan Song La residence, he travelled to the Bangkok Probation Office 1 in Bang Khun Non to formally report as required under corrections regulations.

Khaosod reported that the release is expected to remain a major political talking point in Thailand, given Thaksin’s long-standing influence over Thai politics and the ruling Pheu Thai Party. Supporters welcomed his release warmly, while attention is likely to focus on his future public role and political involvement in the coming weeks.

Pictures courtesy of Khaosod

Join the discussion?

Already a member?

Adapted by ASEAN Now Khaosod 11 May 2026

View full article

He's an old man, lost his face publicly, faced prison, ....let him go home and rest in peace.

1 hour ago, Peter Crow said:

Barbaric to put a 77 years old man in prison. We are in 2026..

What a strange view to hold.

So criminals should not have to face prison after a certain age.

Should we cut loose the murderers, mass murderers, rapists and paedophiles if they are over a certain age?

40 minutes ago, Bert got kinky said:

What a strange view to hold.

So criminals should not have to face prison after a certain age.

Should we cut loose the murderers, mass murderers, rapists and paedophiles if they are over a certain age?

Home arrest with ankle monitor would have been perfectly suited here. His stay in prison had purely political motivations.

And I am not a particularly a Thaksin supporter, but more of the opinion that no one involved in politics here is clean, by western standards, some things are just too deeply ingrained in Thainess.

2 hours ago, bkkryn said:

im so happy, im gonna celebrate with couple of beers and ciggies tonight boys

OMG I know how you feel, such a weight off my shoulders. Of course he will avoid politics having learned his lesson in prison. All is well in the world.

It is great to see him released. I hope now he will have some influence to expose the real corrupt politician, Anutin.

It’s going to be interesting to see how this is interpreted. It's sure to depend on where people sit politically.

I would say that for many Thai people, seeing Thaksin with his family and supporters outside the prison just reinforces the long‑running belief that the justice system bends when the right surname is involved.

Even if everything "was" technically above board, the perception of preferential treatment is enough to upset many, especially at a time when trust in government in Thailand is already fragile.

On the other hand, the MTGAts will see this as another chapter in Thaksin's resilience. No doubt for them, the idea will be that he’s endured years of political pressure and still stands strong regardless.

Then, there will those for whom this is more a reminder that elite politics still operates on its own set of rules, far removed from the reforms that many have been pushing for.

So while the government may be hoping this will appease the masses, it could just as easily deepen the divide.

What we are witnessing with Thaksin's parole is sure to be seen by the different groups in completely different ways.

7 hours ago, Peter Crow said:

Barbaric to put a 77 years old man in prison. We are in 2026..

Most countries, including your own do exactly the same thing with criminals, age is not a get out of jail free card.

6 hours ago, connda said:

None of the Shins should be allowed anywhere near politics, but? I'm sure he'll be turning the levers of Thai power soon enough

Turning levers [sic] won't get him very far.

IMHO, if he only paid 7% VAT on profits from the sale of Shincorp most his problems would not have arisen. Yes, a currupt man as is 99% of Thais in power but in saying that he did a tremendous amount of work to support Infrastructure and social well being etc. which was in neglect here in Isaan and the North during the late 90s and early 2000s.

Let him retire in peace!

That certainly doesn't look like a man who has Alzheimer’s having recognized and embraced his family. Having said that possibly in the early stages.

https://x.com/KhaosodEnglish/status/2053680698192789911

8 hours ago, connda said:

Tony should have just bitten the bullet, come home, done his time, and he'd be as free as a bird like he is now. I can respect that.
Instead - the hospital fiasco, larping as a poor dying man needing 24/7 care in the penthouse suite of a hospital. Can't respect what he attempted to pull off at all.

Yingluck should take a lesson here. Come home, do your time, get paroled, then visit your grandkids.

None of the Shins should be allowed anywhere near politics, but? I'm sure he'll be turning the levers of Thai power soon enough.

Well it's his party, isn't it?

7 hours ago, Bert got kinky said:

What a strange view to hold.

So criminals should not have to face prison after a certain age.

Should we cut loose the murderers, mass murderers, rapists and paedophiles if they are over a certain age?

Like they do in good old USA, at any age.

10 hours ago, D Peter said:

He's an old man, lost his face publicly, faced prison, ....let him go home and rest in peace.

I agree but he should solve Bangkok's traffic

problem fIrst like he said he would when elected

c irca 2004 !

19 hours ago, D Peter said:

He's an old man, lost his face publicly, faced prison, ....let him go home and rest in peace.

Oh but he will?

This man is very well loved by Thais

7 minutes ago, Hunz Kittisak said:

This man is very well loved by Thais

... and disliked or hated by the majority of thais … 😂

F this guy. I was living in Thailand when the reds and the yellows were shooting at each other in BKK.

He loaded up a private plane with duffels of baht, and split.

He's going to be back at it trying to put his proxies in place, bad for the Kingdom for sure.

15 hours ago, Jim Blue said:

I agree but he should solve Bangkok's traffic

problem fIrst like he said he would when elected

c irca 2004 !

Did your politicians fulfill all their promises ??

3 hours ago, Hunz Kittisak said:

This man is very well loved by Thais

some Thais, not all.

Farangs can't complain when he and his sister were both PM's, we were well looked after by the exchange rates. Then along comes the military coup and all World exchange rates crashed down wards never to recover. As for Thai politics, we can't vote so it's not our business.

On 5/11/2026 at 5:01 AM, Peter Crow said:

Home arrest with ankle monitor would have been perfectly suited here. His stay in prison had purely political motivations.

And I am not a particularly a Thaksin supporter, but more of the opinion that no one involved in politics here is clean, by western standards, some things are just too deeply ingrained in Thainess.

You imagine that those involved in politics in the West are somehow "clean"? Are they really "clean", or do they just hide the dirt better?