Thein Zaw told The Associated Press by telephone after a hearing on Wednesday that all charges were dropped because he was doing his job at the time of his arrest.
“I look forward to meeting my family,” he told the news agency. “I am sorry for some colleagues who are still in prison.”
Thein Zaw was arrested during a street protest in Yangon on February 27. He was accused of violating a public order law that carries a sentence of up to three years in prison, according to the Associated Press.
“The Associated Press is deeply relieved that AP journalist Thein Zaw has been released from prison in Myanmar,” said vice president for international news, Ian Phillips, in a statement to CNN Business.
“Our relief is mitigated by the fact that other journalists remain in detention. We urge Myanmar to release all journalists and allow them to report freely and safely what is happening in the country,” added Phillips.
Scott Griffen, deputy director of the International Press Institute, said the group “welcomes the release of Thein Zaw, who was arrested for doing his job as a journalist and should never have been behind bars”.
“The military junta must end all forms of media harassment and intimidation that cover demonstrations against the coup and end restrictions on publication and broadcast by the media in the country,” he added.
Myanmar’s military seized power on February 1 after alleging that last year’s elections were marked by fraud. The coup marked a return to the military regime, which stifled the country for decades before some democratic freedoms were introduced around 2010.
The military responded to the protests with increasing violence and efforts to stifle communications. Internet access was restricted, journalists were arrested and some newspapers were prevented from publishing.
– Charles Riley contributed reporting.