Politics

Former Thai PM Thaksin Acquitted in Royal Defamation Case

AUG 24 2025·Updated AUG 25 2025

Story

Above: Thaksin Shinawatra (C) leaves the Criminal Court in Bangkok on Aug. 22, 2025. Image credit: Manam Vatsyayana/AFP/Getty Images

The Facts

A criminal court in Bangkok on Friday dismissed lese majeste and cybercrime charges against former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, stemming from an interview with a South Korean media outlet in 2015.
Al Jazeera
Bloomberg.com
At the time, Thaksin told the Chosun Ilbo that he believed that people in the palace and members of the privy council had been behind the 2014 military takeover that deposed his sister, Yingluck Shinawatra. The case was reactivated last year, following his return from exile in 2023.
BBC News
The New York Times
The court found that the video clip presented as evidence contained only partial — and potentially edited — content from a longer interview, and that the language used did not contain words or terminology clearly indicating a direct reference to the king.
Khaosod English
Thai PBS World
A spokesman for the Office of the Attorney General said that the prosecution will review the court's verdict to decide whether to file an appeal. Meanwhile, the lawyer representing Thaksin said he will seek the lifting of his travel ban.
Bangkok Post
Thai Enquirer
Lese majeste law in Thailand carries penalties of up to 15 years in prison for anyone who defames, insults or threatens the king, queen, heir apparent or regent. Since 2020, at least 281 people have been charged with violating Section 112 of the Criminal Code, with conviction rates of around 80%.
CNN
Guardian
Thaksin will face a Supreme Court case next month over whether he served a one-year prison sentence when he spent time in a police hospital. This week, his daughter, suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, will learn whether or not she will be removed from office.
BBC News
Bloomberg.com

Sources Split

LEFT

CENTER

RIGHT

ESTAB
CRIT

CENTER

PRO
ESTAB

The Spin

Narrative A

This rare acquittal on lese majeste charges indicates that the Thai establishment — the king and the military — have realized that an alliance with Thaksin and his Pheu Thai party is key to preventing parliamentary efforts to scrutinize or reform the army and palace. This decision is politically motivated rather than based on legal merit.

Council on Foreign Relations

Narrative B

Thaksin has been acquitted because the court found insufficient evidence against him in this case. This has nothing to do with the government or political calculations, and suggesting so is an attempt to violate the court's authority.