Two Reuters journalists jailed in Myanmar walked free from a prison on the outskirts of Yangon on Tuesday after spending more than 500 days behind bars.

The reporters, Wa Lone, 33, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 29, had been convicted in September on charges of breaking the Official Secrets Act, and sentenced to seven years in prison.

The case raised questions about Myanmar’s progress towards democracy and sparked an outcry from media organistions, diplomats and human rights advocates.

They were released under a presidential amnesty for 6,520 prisoners on Tuesday. President Win Myint has pardoned thousands of other prisoners in mass amnesties since last month.