Further information on UA: 106/10 Index: EUR 53/006/2010 Issue Date: 07 May 2010

The Supreme Administrative Court in Vilnius, Lithuania, ruled today (7 May) that Baltic Pride will go ahead tomorrow.

On 5 May, the Vilnius City Administrative Court temporarily suspended the 2010 Baltic Pride march, following an application by the Lithuanian Attorney General to withdraw its authorization because of the risk of clashes with counter-demonstrators. The Supreme Administrative Court in Vilnius rejected these grounds, taking into account that Vilnius City Police insists that it has made the necessary security arrangements to guarantee the marchers’ security.

350 people are expected to take part in the march on Saturday 8 May, including over 50 Amnesty International activists from more than 20 countries.

International human rights law places a positive obligation on states to ensure that individuals and groups are able to exercise their rights to freedom of expression and assembly free from the threat of violence or disruption. Security threats emanating from counter-protesters should be policed effectively, rather than used as a pretext to ban public events.

No further action is requested from the UA network. Many thanks to all who sent appeals. Apologies to anyone who had difficulties with the email address.
This is the first update of UA 106/10 (EUR 53/005/2010). Further information: http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/EUR53/005/2010/en

Further information on UA: 106/10Index: EUR 53/006/2010 Issue Date: 07 May 2010