The UN on Tuesday praised the release of two Reuters journalists jailed for reporting on the Rohingya crisis in Myanmar, but warned that freedom of expression remains heavily restricted in the country.
The release of Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo is "good news," United Nations human rights office spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani told reporters in Geneva.
"Of course, they should never have been arrested or convicted in the first place," she added.
Shamdasani noted that last year the rights office had issued a set of recommendations aimed at improving free speech in Myanmar.
"No positive progress has been observed," in terms of implementing those changes, she said. "The situation for freedom of expression (in Myanmar) is dire."