(MENAFN) The UN’s Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM) warned on Wednesday that it is receiving an increasing number of reports of grave international crimes being committed ahead of the elections scheduled by Myanmar’s military authorities for Dec. 28.

Nicholas Koumjian, head of the mechanism, said in a statement that while the conduct of an election that is neither free nor fair does not, in itself, fall under the IIMM’s mandate, some actions linked to the electoral process may amount to crimes against humanity, including persecution and the use of terror against civilians.

According to the IIMM, the junta passed a law in July 2025 that criminalizes criticism of the elections, imposing penalties of up to 20 years in prison or even the death sentence. The mechanism said it has already documented the arrests of many people — including minors — for online criticism or distributing anti-election material.

The IIMM is gathering evidence of arrests carried out without legal grounds or due process, along with the detentions that follow. It is also examining reports of intensified airstrikes on civilian areas as the military seeks to reclaim territory from armed groups and widen the zones where voting could be conducted.

Koumjian stressed that attacking civilians violates international humanitarian law and warned that indiscriminate airstrikes in populated areas, as well as attacks on political candidates or individuals involved in election procedures such as vote counting, may constitute war crimes or crimes against humanity. He said the mechanism is closely documenting these violations so that those responsible can ultimately be held accountable.

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