The Bangkok North Municipal Court has dismissed a defamation lawsuit filed against Move Forward Party MP Rukchanok Srinork by two former Nation TV anchors on the ground that the two presenters are public figures and so can be criticized.

The conviction of Move Forward Party MP Rukchanok Srinork for royal defamation charge was a violation of freedom of expression and sends a message to opposition party members to keep silent, says Human Rights Watch, who call for such use of the justice system to silence opposition lawmakers to be taken in account by countries being asked to consider Thailand’s candidacy for the UN Human Rights Council.

Move Forward Party MP Rukchanok "Ice" Srinork has been sentenced to 6 years in prison on a royal defamation charge over two tweets about a COVID-19 vaccine monopoly and the monarchy in 2021. The court later granted her bail to appeal. She will not lose her seat in parliament and can continue to perform her parliamentary duties as an MP.