Speaker Mohamed Nasheed on Monday night called for the release of former President Abdulla Yameen alongside the jailed opposition leader's wife Fathmath Ibrahim.
Nasheed was at The Democrats' meeting hall when the former first lady left the nearby Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) meeting hall at the carnival after attending an event. The pair met on the road, shook hands and engaged in conversation.
As supporters from both parties called for Yameen's release, Nasheed joined the chant.
Yameen was sentenced to 11 years in prison after he was convicted of bribery and money laundering over the lease of Vaavu Aarah island. An appeal of the guilty verdict is ongoing at the High Court.
Yameen was unable to contest in the presidential election on the PPM ticket after the Elections Commission (EC) rejected his candidacy and the Supreme Court upheld the decision.
Nasheed was jailed under Yameen's administration. The former president remained critical of Yameen until recently.
