The ministry says it warned Mathias Licharz after he called for the unconditional release of people he described as arbitrarily detained, including Win Myint and Aung San Suu Kyi. It alleges his video incited unrest.
Myanmar’s Foreign Ministry said it summoned Germany’s head of mission, Mathias Licharz, over a video calling for the release of detained politicians. Deputy Foreign Minister Ko Ko Kyaw warned him and handed him an aide-memoire, a formal diplomatic note, the ministry said on 10 November.
Licharz called for the unconditional release of everyone he described as arbitrarily detained, including former president Win Myint and former leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Both were detained when the military removed their government in the February 2021 coup.
The ministry alleged that the video appeared to fuel opposition to Myanmar and its government, thereby inciting internal unrest. It said Ko Ko Kyaw warned against a repeat and that similar conduct would be treated with utmost seriousness and prompt appropriate action.
Licharz posted the video on 8 November, outside Win Myint’s former residence in Yangon, to mark the former president’s 75th birthday. He said the United Nations still regarded Win Myint as Myanmar’s legitimate president.
Authorities announced in April 2026 that Win Myint had been pardoned of his post-coup convictions. Licharz said his attempts to meet Win Myint had failed and argued that the former president was not free to meet people of his choosing or communicate independently.
The military leadership behind the coup organized elections that installed a nominally civilian government in 2026; analysts cited by Al Jazeera regarded it as a cover for continued military rule. Authorities say Suu Kyi was moved to house arrest in Naypyidaw this year; she remains detained, with access to her tightly controlled.
The ministry also said it would not object if Licharz chose to recognize Win Myint as president and wished to end his service in Myanmar. Germany’s embassy did not immediately comment.
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