18/06/2026 President
Petra Bayr, the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), made the following statement today:
“On the occasion of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s 81st birthday tomorrow, I call once again for her immediate and unconditional release.
For decades, Peace Nobel Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi has symbolised the struggle for democracy and human dignity in Myanmar. Her continued detention, alongside that of many other political prisoners, stands in stark contradiction to the principles of justice, freedom and the rule of law.
As President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, I reaffirm our unwavering commitment to the universality of human rights. These rights are not contingent on geography, politics or circumstance; they are inherent to every individual, everywhere. The deprivation of liberty for peaceful political expression is incompatible with these universal standards.
Today, I urge the authorities in Myanmar to respect their international obligations, to release Aung San Suu Kyi and all those arbitrarily detained, and to take meaningful steps toward restoring democratic governance and the protection of fundamental freedoms.
On this symbolic day, let us not only remember her courage but also renew our collective resolve to uphold the universal values she has long represented.”