General Principles


General Principles

#Fundamental Right

The right to freedom of peaceful assembly is recognized as a fundamental right in a democratic society, akin to the right to freedom of expression (6_73, 7_73, 126_35, 183_39, 266_33, 389_50, 389_52, 605_10, 606_7, 608_7, 609_7, 610_7, 611_7, 612_7, 613_7, 614_7, 617_7, 618_8, 620_7, 621_7, 622_7, 623_7, 624_7, 625_7, 626_7, 627_26, 628_7, 629_7, 630_7, 632_7, 633_7, 634_7, 635_7, 636_7, 637_7, 638_7, 639_7, 640_7, 641_10, 642_7, 643_7, 644_7, 645_7, 646_7, 648_7, 649_7, 650_7, 651_7, 652_7, 653_7, 654_7, 655_7, 656_7, 657_7, 658_7, 659_7, 660_7, 661_7, 662_7, 664_7, 665_7, 666_7, 667_7, 668_8, 669_7, 670_7, 671_7, 672_7, 673_7, 674_7, 675_7, 676_7, 677_8, 679_4, 680_7, 681_7, 682_7, 683_7, 684_7, 685_7, 686_7, 688_7, 689_7, 690_7, 691_7).

#Inclusive Scope

The right to freedom of peaceful assembly is secured to everyone who organizes or participates in a peaceful demonstration (3_92, 6_73, 12_93, 13_83, 14_84, 16_85, 105_8, 116_18, 124_15, 149_1, 197_30, 202_23, 246_6, 248_21, 266_33, 400_13, 402_1, 402_5, 402_13, 402_20, 402_25, 402_30, 402_41, 403_6, 403_7, 404_16, 404_17, 405_14, 406_2, 407_14, 408_15, 409_7, 409_8, 410_11, 411_7, 412_35, 412_37, 414_43, 414_44, 414_45, 414_46, 414_47, 416_1, 416_4, 416_10, 417_45, 417_47, 418_7, 419_7, 419_10, 420_98, 420_99, 420_100, 420_101, 420_102, 422_21, 422_22, 423_26, 423_36, 424_13, 424_15, 426_1, 426_39, 428_7, 429_16, 430_15, 431_20, 431_21, 432_21, 432_33, 432_34, 433_5, 433_6, 434_24, 436_130, 436_142, 439_14, 439_20, 442_1, 442_22, 445_44, 445_45, 445_54, 447_13, 447_14, 449_19, 449_20, 451_7, 452_7, 453_8, 453_12, 455_13, 455_14, 456_6, 456_9, 458_35, 458_36, 459_7, 460_10, 463_7, 463_8, 464_5, 464_6, 464_54, 464_55, 464_56, 464_57, 464_58, 464_59, 466_44, 466_50, 467_7, 467_8, 468_7, 468_8, 469_10, 470_6, 470_7, 471_7, 472_7, 473_19, 473_20, 474_7, 475_7, 475_8, 475_9, 476_7, 477_12, 477_13, 479_7, 479_11, 480_33, 480_34, 480_81, 480_82, 481_6, 481_7, 483_10, 484_7, 484_8, 485_7, 486_7, 487_7, 487_8, 488_7, 488_8, 490_7, 490_11, 491_7, 492_7, 497_7, 498_7, 498_8, 499_7, 499_8, 503_7, 504_7, 505_7, 506_14, 509_7, 510_7, 511_7, 512_7, 520_7, 521_9, 522_7, 524_7, 526_7, 527_7, 528_7, 530_6, 537_7, 539_7, 541_7, 543_7, 544_7, 545_7, 546_7, 551_8, 556_7, 561_7, 563_7, 565_7, 566_7, 567_7, 571_7, 572_7, 573_6, 577_7, 580_7, 583_7, 584_7, 586_7, 587_6).

#Organizers and Participants

This right can be exercised by both individual participants and those organizing the assembly, including corporate bodies and associations (3_92, 5_54, 6_73, 7_73, 126_35, 183_39, 235_27, 235_28, 266_24, 266_33, 389_50, 389_52, 503_7, 504_7, 505_7, 506_14, 509_7, 510_7, 511_7, 512_7, 520_7, 521_9, 522_7, 524_7, 526_7, 527_7, 528_7, 530_6, 537_7, 539_7, 541_7, 543_7, 544_7, 545_7, 546_7, 551_8, 556_7, 561_7, 563_7, 565_7, 566_7, 567_7, 571_7, 572_7, 573_6, 577_7, 580_7, 583_7, 584_7, 586_7, 587_6).

#Violent Intentions

The notion of "peaceful assembly" does not cover demonstrations where the organizers and participants have violent intentions that result in public disorder (12_93, 13_83, 14_84, 16_85, 357_16). However, peaceful participants in demonstrations marred by isolated acts of violence committed by others do not lose their protection under Article 11 (344_54, 354_46, 397_87, 400_13, 402_1, 402_5, 402_13, 402_20, 402_25, 402_30, 402_41, 403_6, 403_7, 404_16, 404_17, 405_14, 406_2, 407_14, 408_15, 409_7, 409_8, 410_11, 411_7, 412_35, 412_37, 414_43, 414_44, 414_45, 414_46, 414_47, 416_1, 416_4, 416_10, 417_45, 417_47, 418_7, 419_7, 419_10, 420_98, 420_99, 420_100, 420_101, 420_102, 422_21, 422_22, 423_26, 423_36, 424_13, 424_15, 426_1, 426_39, 428_7, 429_16, 430_15, 431_20, 431_21, 432_21, 432_33, 432_34, 433_5, 433_6, 434_24, 436_130, 436_142, 439_14, 439_20, 442_1, 442_22, 445_44, 445_45, 445_54, 447_13, 447_14, 449_19, 449_20, 451_7, 452_7, 453_8, 453_12, 455_13, 455_14, 456_6, 456_9, 458_35, 458_36, 459_7, 460_10, 463_7, 463_8, 464_5, 464_6, 464_54, 464_55, 464_56, 464_57, 464_58, 464_59, 466_44, 466_50, 467_7, 467_8, 468_7, 468_8, 469_10, 470_6, 470_7, 471_7, 472_7, 473_19, 473_20, 474_7, 475_7, 475_8, 475_9, 476_7, 477_12, 477_13, 479_7, 479_11, 480_33, 480_34, 480_81, 480_82, 481_6, 481_7, 483_10, 484_7, 484_8, 485_7, 486_7, 487_7, 487_8, 488_7, 488_8, 490_7, 490_11, 491_7, 492_7, 497_7, 498_7, 498_8, 499_7, 499_8).

#Posthumous Applications

The Court has allowed heirs or close family members to pursue applications on behalf of deceased applicants, recognizing their legitimate interest in continuing the proceedings (169_10, 169_11).

#Intersection with Other Rights

The right to freedom of assembly often intersects with other rights, such as freedom of expression. Complaints under Article 11 are sometimes examined in light of Article 10 (freedom of expression) (240_42, 252_68).

#Case Law References

The Court often refers to its well-established case-law regarding freedom of assembly and the proportionality of interference with it. Notable cases include Kudrevičius and Others v. Lithuania, Oya Ataman v. Turkey, and Hyde Park and Others v. Moldova (504_8, 509_8, 510_8, 511_8, 522_8, 524_8, 526_8, 528_8, 537_8, 539_8, 545_8, 546_8, 551_9, 563_8, 565_8, 566_8, 567_8, 572_8, 577_8, 580_8, 584_8, 586_8, 587_7, 605_11, 606_10, 608_8, 610_8, 611_8, 612_8, 617_8, 618_9, 623_8, 625_8, 632_8, 633_8, 634_8, 635_8, 637_8, 639_8, 640_8, 641_11, 643_8, 644_8, 649_8, 652_8, 653_8, 654_8, 658_8, 661_8, 665_8, 672_8, 673_8, 676_8).