Case 340_99
340_99 interference
99. In particular, the Court reiterates that despite the fact that the
domestic authorities were given prior notice on 8 May 2012 about the
intention to organise a peaceful march on 17 May 2012, they did not
manage to use that generous period of nine days for careful preparatory
work. Indeed, given the attitudes in parts of Georgian society towards the
sexual minorities, the authorities knew or should have known of the risk of
tensions associated with the applicant organisation’s street march to mark
the International Day Against Homophobia. They were thus under an
obligation to use any means possible, for instance by making public
statements in advance of the demonstration to advocate, without any
ambiguity, a tolerant, conciliatory stance (compare with Ouranio Toxo,
cited above, § 42) as well as to warn potential law-breakers of the nature of
possible sanctions. Furthermore, it was apparent from the outcome of the
LGBT procession, that the number of police patrol officers dispatched to the
scene of the demonstration was not sufficient, and it would have been only
prudent if the domestic authorities, given the likelihood of street clashes,
had ensured more police manpower by mobilising, for instance, a squad of
anti-riot police (contrast with Plattform “Ärzte für das Leben”, §§ 37
and 38; and also Ouranio Toxo, cited above, 43).