In pictures: Aung San Suu Kyi

Updated 11:38 AM EST, Mon December 6, 2021

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Aung San Suu Kyi poses for a portrait in Yangon, Myanmar, in 2010. A month earlier, she had been released from house arrest.

Myanmar's military seized power in a coup in February, detaining the country's civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other top government figures.

The coup came after months of increasing friction between the civilian government and the powerful military, known as the Tatmadaw, over alleged election irregularities.

Suu Kyi was hit with a dozen charges that add up to combined maximum sentences of more than 100 years. In December, she was sentenced to two years in jail on charges of incitement and breaking Covid-19 rules. She has rejected all the allegations against her, and her supporters say the charges against her are political.

Suu Kyi, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991, is widely considered a hero of democracy in Myanmar. After spending 15 years under house arrest as part of a decades-long fight against military rule, she led her party to a landslide victory in Myanmar's 2015 elections, establishing the country's first civilian government.

But her international reputation has been tarnished in recent years. Suu Kyi came under fire for failing to speak out against numerous atrocities allegedly carried out by the military against Rohingya Muslims. Hundreds of thousands of the persecuted ethnic minority were forced into neighboring Bangladesh during violent military operations in 2016 and 2017.

Suu Kyi, front center, is seen with her parents and her two elder brothers in 1947. Her father, Aung San, was the commander of the Burma Independence Army and helped negotiate the country's independence from Britain. He was assassinated on July 19, 1947. Suu Kyi's mother, Ma Khin Kyi, was a diplomat who was once an ambassador to India.
Suu Kyi, front center, is seen with her parents and her two elder brothers in 1947. Her father, Aung San, was the commander of the Burma Independence Army and helped negotiate the country's independence from Britain. He was assassinated on July 19, 1947. Suu Kyi's mother, Ma Khin Kyi, was a diplomat who was once an ambassador to India.
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Suu Kyi poses with Burmese comedian Par Par Lay, who was part of the pro-democracy act "The Moustache Brothers." Suu Kyi grew up in Myanmar and India but moved to England in the 1960s, where she studied at Oxford University. She returned to Myanmar in 1988 and co-founded the National League for Democracy, a political party dedicated to nonviolence and civil disobedience.
Suu Kyi poses with Burmese comedian Par Par Lay, who was part of the pro-democracy act "The Moustache Brothers." Suu Kyi grew up in Myanmar and India but moved to England in the 1960s, where she studied at Oxford University. She returned to Myanmar in 1988 and co-founded the National League for Democracy, a political party dedicated to nonviolence and civil disobedience.
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Suu Kyi sprinkles water over the heads of her followers during a traditional new year ceremony in Yangon in 1989. Five days of celebrations were marked by anti-government protests closely watched by armed troops.
Suu Kyi sprinkles water over the heads of her followers during a traditional new year ceremony in Yangon in 1989. Five days of celebrations were marked by anti-government protests closely watched by armed troops.
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Suu Kyi poses for a photo in June 1989.
Suu Kyi poses for a photo in June 1989.
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Suu Kyi addresses a crowd of supporters in Yangon in July 1989. About two weeks later, she was placed under house arrest and charged with trying to divide the military. She denied the charges.
Suu Kyi addresses a crowd of supporters in Yangon in July 1989. About two weeks later, she was placed under house arrest and charged with trying to divide the military. She denied the charges.
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While under house arrest, Suu Kyi won the Nobel Peace Price in 1991. She was honored "for her non-violent struggle for democracy and human rights."
While under house arrest, Suu Kyi won the Nobel Peace Price in 1991. She was honored "for her non-violent struggle for democracy and human rights."
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Suu Kyi speaks to hundreds of supporters from the gate at her residential compound in Yangon in 1995. She had just been released from house arrest, but her political activity was restricted.
Suu Kyi speaks to hundreds of supporters from the gate at her residential compound in Yangon in 1995. She had just been released from house arrest, but her political activity was restricted.
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Suu Kyi addresses supporters in 1997, on the 49th anniversary of Myanmar's independence movement.
Suu Kyi addresses supporters in 1997, on the 49th anniversary of Myanmar's independence movement.
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Suu Kyi, in a 1999 home video, gives her support to economic sanctions against her country as a means to affect the governing military.
Suu Kyi, in a 1999 home video, gives her support to economic sanctions against her country as a means to affect the governing military.
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Suu Kyi poses in front of a portrait of her father in 1999. In 2000, she was once again placed under house arrest.
Suu Kyi poses in front of a portrait of her father in 1999. In 2000, she was once again placed under house arrest.
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An activist holds a Suu Kyi portrait during a protest at the Chinese Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand, in 2009. The protesters were calling on the Chinese government to impose sanctions on Myanmar's military government following a Suu Kyi trial.
An activist holds a Suu Kyi portrait during a protest at the Chinese Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand, in 2009. The protesters were calling on the Chinese government to impose sanctions on Myanmar's military government following a Suu Kyi trial.
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Suu Kyi speaks in Yangon in December 2010, a month after being released from house arrest. She had spent 15 of the previous 21 years under house arrest.
Suu Kyi speaks in Yangon in December 2010, a month after being released from house arrest. She had spent 15 of the previous 21 years under house arrest.
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Suu Kyi is held by her son Kim Aris as she is greeted by supporters during a visit to the ancient temple city of Bagan in 2011.
Suu Kyi is held by her son Kim Aris as she is greeted by supporters during a visit to the ancient temple city of Bagan in 2011.
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Suu Kyi meets US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at Suu Kyi's residence in Yangon in 2011.
Suu Kyi meets US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at Suu Kyi's residence in Yangon in 2011.
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Suu Kyi greets crowds while campaigning in Pathein, Myanmar, in 2012. She was running for a seat in parliament.
Suu Kyi greets crowds while campaigning in Pathein, Myanmar, in 2012. She was running for a seat in parliament.
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Suu Kyi makes her way through a crowd in 2012, a day after she won a seat in parliament. It was Myanmar's first multiparty elections since 1990.
Suu Kyi makes her way through a crowd in 2012, a day after she won a seat in parliament. It was Myanmar's first multiparty elections since 1990.
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Suu Kyi accepts the Ambassador of Conscience Award next to U2 singer Bono during a European tour in 2012.
Suu Kyi accepts the Ambassador of Conscience Award next to U2 singer Bono during a European tour in 2012.
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Suu Kyi is presented with the Congressional Gold Medal while visiting the US Capitol in 2012.
Suu Kyi is presented with the Congressional Gold Medal while visiting the US Capitol in 2012.
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Suu Kyi meets with US President Barack Obama in the White House Oval Office. Obama later visited her lakeside villa in Myanmar. It was the first visit to Myanmar by a sitting US president.
Suu Kyi meets with US President Barack Obama in the White House Oval Office. Obama later visited her lakeside villa in Myanmar. It was the first visit to Myanmar by a sitting US president.
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Suu Kyi joins officer cadets for tea while visiting a military academy in Camberley, England, in 2013.
Suu Kyi joins officer cadets for tea while visiting a military academy in Camberley, England, in 2013.
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Suu Kyi speaks during a Nobel lecture in Oslo, Norway, in 2015. She was finally able to receive the Nobel Peace Prize that she won while she was under house arrest in 1991.
Suu Kyi speaks during a Nobel lecture in Oslo, Norway, in 2015. She was finally able to receive the Nobel Peace Prize that she won while she was under house arrest in 1991.
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Suu Kyi descends from a stage decorated with a portrait of her late father during a campaign rally in 2015.
Suu Kyi descends from a stage decorated with a portrait of her late father during a campaign rally in 2015.
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Suu Kyi campaigns in Kawhmu, Myanmar, in 2015.
Suu Kyi campaigns in Kawhmu, Myanmar, in 2015.
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Suu Kyi arrives at a polling station to cast her vote in 2015. Her party won a historic majority in the nation's first freely held parliamentary elections. Suu Kyi was not able to become president, however, because of a constitutional amendment that prohibits anyone with foreign relatives from becoming the nation's leader. She was later named state counselor, a role created especially for her.
Suu Kyi arrives at a polling station to cast her vote in 2015. Her party won a historic majority in the nation's first freely held parliamentary elections. Suu Kyi was not able to become president, however, because of a constitutional amendment that prohibits anyone with foreign relatives from becoming the nation's leader. She was later named state counselor, a role created especially for her.
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Suu Kyi and members of parliament take their positions during the presidential vote in Naypyidaw, Myanmar, in 2016. Htin Kyaw, Suu Kyi's longtime aide, was voted as president.
Suu Kyi and members of parliament take their positions during the presidential vote in Naypyidaw, Myanmar, in 2016. Htin Kyaw, Suu Kyi's longtime aide, was voted as president.
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Suu Kyi walks with Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, the country's military leader, at the Naypyidaw city airport in 2016.
Suu Kyi walks with Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, the country's military leader, at the Naypyidaw city airport in 2016.
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Suu Kyi and President Kyaw talk at a conference in Naypyidaw in 2016.
Suu Kyi and President Kyaw talk at a conference in Naypyidaw in 2016.
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Suu Kyi addresses the United Nations General Assembly in New York in 2016.
Suu Kyi addresses the United Nations General Assembly in New York in 2016.
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Supporters rush to greet Suu Kyi in Washington, DC, after she met with US Secretary of State John Kerry in 2016.
Supporters rush to greet Suu Kyi in Washington, DC, after she met with US Secretary of State John Kerry in 2016.
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Suu Kyi is guided by National Park Service Ranger Heath Mitchell on her visit to Washington, DC, in 2016.
Suu Kyi is guided by National Park Service Ranger Heath Mitchell on her visit to Washington, DC, in 2016.
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Suu Kyi met with Pope Francis at the Vatican in 2017.
Suu Kyi met with Pope Francis at the Vatican in 2017.
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Britain's Queen Elizabeth II greets Suu Kyi ahead of a private lunch at Buckingham Palace in 2017.
Britain's Queen Elizabeth II greets Suu Kyi ahead of a private lunch at Buckingham Palace in 2017.
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US Vice President Mike Pence meets with Suu Kyi on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Singapore in 2018.
US Vice President Mike Pence meets with Suu Kyi on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Singapore in 2018.
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Suu Kyi stands before the UN's International Court of Justice in 2019. The nation of Gambia filed a lawsuit in the world court <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/13/asia/rohingya-suu-kyi-myanmar-hague-intl-hnk/index.html" target="_blank">alleging that Myanmar committed "genocidal acts"</a> against Myanmar's Rohingya Muslims. Suu Kyi has repeatedly denied such charges, siding with the military and labeling the accusations as "misinformation."
Suu Kyi stands before the UN's International Court of Justice in 2019. The nation of Gambia filed a lawsuit in the world court alleging that Myanmar committed "genocidal acts" against Myanmar's Rohingya Muslims. Suu Kyi has repeatedly denied such charges, siding with the military and labeling the accusations as "misinformation."
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Suu Kyi casts her ballot during advance voting in 2020.
Suu Kyi casts her ballot during advance voting in 2020.
Aung Shine Oo/AP
Suu Kyi watches the vaccination of health workers at a hospital in Naypyidaw in January 2021. A few days later, the military detained her in a coup.
Suu Kyi watches the vaccination of health workers at a hospital in Naypyidaw in January 2021. A few days later, the military detained her in a coup.
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