27 January 2026

Petra Bayr, Mentor to Political Prisoner Iryna Danylovych, Elected President of PACE

On 26 January, Petra Bayr, who serves as a mentor to the imprisoned journalist and human rights defender Iryna Danylovych, became the new President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). Ukrainian MP Mariia Mezentseva-Fedorenko was elected Vice-President.

“Diversity must not be merely tolerated. It must be respected, valued, and actively protected as part of our shared European identity. I stand here on behalf of all those who defend their rights, regardless of whether they are 9 or 90 years old. Every person must have both the right and the real opportunity to express their views without fear of repression,” the newly elected President stated.

Petra Bayr has consistently supported Ukraine at the international level and has visited the country on several occasions since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion. She also participated in the drafting of PACE resolutions, thanks to which the Assembly in 2023 recognised that Russia’s aggression against Ukraine began in 2014, not in 2022.

The advocacy mentoring programme for Crimean political prisoners has been active since 2021. It aims to engage mentors who publicly highlight the stories of Ukrainian citizens illegally imprisoned by the Russian Federation. The programme brings together historians, politicians, cultural figures, political analysts, and opinion leaders from various countries.