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The Regional Regional Administrative Court upheld Kaunas Pride’s complaint and overturned the Kaunas City Municipality’s decision prohibiting the organization of marches in the streets of the temporary capital.
The court clarified that the local government, by not wanting to allow the march in Laisvės alley, restricted the right to freedom of peaceful assembly.
Dozens of people in Kaunas, near the Regional District Administrative Court, applied for permission to organize the Kaunas Pride march for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in the temporary capital on September 4, which is expected to be attended by some a thousand people. .
The Kaunas City Municipality previously rejected the request from the event organizers, who indicated up to 3 possible marching routes. City authorities explained that the march could not be allowed because it would be hampered by street repairs, heavy vehicle traffic or expanded outdoor café terrace areas.
“The court, after evaluating all the evidence gathered in the case, concluded that the action taken to restrict the march in Laisv Las Alley, which is the usual place for marches and other events, was disproportionate and violated the right of the plaintiff to peaceful demonstrations. “, said the judge. Janina Vitunskiene.
The court partially satisfied the wishes of the organizers: the march was allowed to be organized only on one route, they will take place only in Laisvės Alley.
“The march will be held, people’s freedom of assembly will be defended and everyone must have the opportunity, and the court has confirmed it, they must have the opportunity for self-expression, peaceful dissemination of their ideas and needs,” says Aivaras. Žilvinskas, Assistant Counsel.
Viktorija Kolbešnikova, one of the Kaunas Pride organizers, says: “We had better arguments and we are very happy that the march is taking place. We will form a column outside the Cathedral, there is another part of Laisvės Alley so that we can ensure safety, there a column will form and first we will go to the left side of Liberty Alley and then we will turn around and return to Independence Square. , Žilinskas Gallery, where the speeches will be given ”.
“The same thing happens to me, they don’t bother, here let them do whatever they want, I live my life. The same for me, ”says the resident.
“It wouldn’t bother me, I’m not against it, they don’t bother me,” says another.
“I have to be against normal families, not homosexuals,” says the resident.
The municipality can still appeal this court decision. It is not yet clear if it will.
Paulius Keras, Deputy Director of Kaunas City Municipality Administration, states: “Not only are the municipality and the police in full agreement, the general opinion of the Kaunas City Municipality and the police is that there are no opportunities for so many people will safely organize a massive event on these proposed routes. “
“For me, all the people who live in the city are the people of Kaunas – whether they are children, women or men, it is not necessary to advertise and do everything here, I need to live beautifully, normally,” says the mayor of the city of Kaunas, Visvaldas Matijošaitis. .
“Our demands: respect for privacy, decent medical care, especially for trans people”, competent psychological assistance without excluding LGBT people, the right to change names without court decision, marriage, adoption “, says V. Kolbešnikova .
This is not the first case in which the Lithuanian courts have made an unfavorable decision for the municipalities regarding the facts. In July, the Vilnius Administrative Court clarified that the municipality of the capital had unjustifiably banned the organizers of the Family March from a demonstration near the Seimas in mid-June.
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