European Court of Human Rights: Russia violated rights of seven activists by refusing to allow LGBT rallies

Russia violated the article 11, 13 and 14 rights of seven LGBT activists by refusing them permission to hold LGBT rallies, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has found.

Handing down its judgment in Alekseyev and Others v. Russia, the court said the case was no different from the case of Alekseyev v. Russia on which it had adjudicated in 2010.

The court held unanimously that there had been a violation of article 11 (right to freedom of assembly), a violation of article 13 (right to an effective remedy), and a violation of article 14 (right not to be discriminated against) of the European Convention on Human Rights.

The case brought together 51 applications from seven applicants challenging the continued refusal by Russian authorities to approve organisers’ requests to hold LGBT rallies. The applications were lodged between 6 February 2009 and 19 January 2015

The court found that the decision to reject the applicants’ requests to hold public LGBT events could not be justified by concerns over public disorder and was in breach of their right to freedom of assembly.

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