In the case of Rodina and Borisova v. Latvia the Court held that there had been no violation of the freedom of assembly and association read in the light of freedom of expression.

The case concerned the authorities’ refusal to allow the applicants to organise public assemblies in Riga. The Rodina association wanted to organise a gathering (on the former Victory Day in the USSR) near the Soviet Victory Monument, and the applicant intended to organise one in front of the Ukrainian embassy.

The Court found that the protests had had the real aim of either denigrating the Latvian nation and language, or supporting illegal separatist groups in Ukraine, set against a background of tension in Latvia and threat from Russia. Overall, the bans had “met a pressing social need” and been proportionate.

• Press release