The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has issued a warning regarding Myanmar’s upcoming elections, asserting that they will likely exacerbate repression and instability rather than facilitate a return to democracy. Scheduled for December 28, these elections have been criticized as a military-controlled process fraught with threats and violence, according to OHCHR spokesperson Jeremy Laurence. He emphasized that the elections will likely deepen insecurity and polarization throughout Myanmar.
This view is shared by James Rodehaver, head of the OHCHR’s Myanmar team, who highlighted the pressure faced by civilians. The junta coerces citizens into voting, while armed opposition threatens those who participate. Although the junta claims to have pardoned 4,000 individuals convicted of sedition, Rodehaver noted that only about 550 have been confirmed as released, with many rearrested. Furthermore, over 100 individuals have been detained under new “election protection rules,” including three youths sentenced to 49 years in prison for putting up critical posters.
The planned electronic-only voting system, reliant on AI and biometric surveillance, has further eroded trust among the populace. Large regions remain beyond military control, rendering credible elections unattainable. Voting will not happen in 56 townships under martial law or in 31 townships due to a lack of candidates, impairing the electoral process significantly, as detailed here.
UN Special Rapporteur Tom Andrews has described the elections as a “charade” in his October 2025 report, urging the international community to categorically reject them. He criticized the junta’s so-called reforms as merely superficial, aimed at maintaining military control. Since the military coup in February 2021, over 30,000 political opponents have been detained, including key figures such as Aung San Suu Kyi. Many political parties, including the National League for Democracy (NLD), have been dissolved.
The international legal community is particularly concerned about Myanmar’s electoral framework in light of Article 25(b) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which entitles citizens to participate in genuine elections conducted by universal and equal suffrage. Human Rights Watch has also urged global leaders to denounce the elections, calling the process a “sham” and recommending increased diplomatic isolation of Myanmar’s military regime. Intensifying humanitarian and refugee assistance has been highlighted as a necessity amid the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
Since the coup, Myanmar has been embroiled in internal strife, exacerbating the humanitarian situation. International organizations, including the UN, have consistently condemned the military’s use of violence and repressive measures against its citizens, raising alarm over the country’s future.