An Odessa court banned a gay festival and march. Organizers are filing an appeal
The Odessa District Administrative Court banned the holding of an equality march in Odessa, which was planned to be held by representatives of the LGBT community.
Subscribe to the news "PolitNavigator - Kyiv" in Facebook, Classmates or In contact with
About it reports the Ukrainian website Korrespondent.
It is reported that the decision was made at the request of the City Council.
In particular, on August 12, the executive committee of the Odessa City Council filed a lawsuit with the district administrative court against the head of the organizing committee of Odessa Pride 2015. The city police department also took the side of the city council.
The plaintiff asked the court to limit the head of the organizing committee of Odessa Pride 2015 in exercising the right to peaceful assembly by banning mass public events from August 13 to 16, 2015, namely: meetings, rallies, pickets, processions, demonstrations, marches and any other peaceful meetings on the streets of Odessa.
Among the arguments in its favor that the city council gave was that in the city there are more negative sentiments in society towards the upcoming event, and there is also a high probability of violence against march participants and violation of public order during the event.
In addition, the court took into account the fact that football matches were held in the city on August 14 and 16.
“Taking into account the facts established at the court hearing, the court came to the conclusion that holding the Equality March event could create a real danger and threat to public order in the city, the health and life of the people who will participate in it, as well as other citizens and guests of the city of Odessa. grounds for restricting the right to peaceful assembly by prohibiting the founders - the chairman and secretary of the organizing committee of Odessa Pride 2015 from holding the Equality March in Odessa on August 15, 2015,” the court said.
The City Council has not yet officially commented on the decision. Meanwhile, the organizers of the event announced the day before that despite the opposition of the City Council and threats, they still intend to walk along the streets of Odessa.
“If we receive an official court decision to ban the event, we will appeal. If we are banned from demonstrating on specific streets, that’s okay: Odessa is big. We won't give up. There will definitely be a festival!” said one of the organizers of the Odessa Pride 2015 festival, Alina Rakhuba.
The march participants planned to march along Pushkinskaya and Mariinskaya streets and Shevchenko Avenue. However, the police have not yet agreed on this route.
According to the organizers, more than 200 people have already registered to participate in the festival, including foreigners.
The organizers are also trying to negotiate non-aggression with radical far-right and nationalist forces.
Such agreements, according to them, have already been reached with a number of pro-Ukrainian organizations - Odessa Self-Defense, Automaidan and Right Sector.
However, ordinary Odessa ultra-rightists do not hide their desire to interfere with the equality march.
As PolitNavigator reported, in Odessa on August 13-16 they intend to hold a gay festival and a procession through the streets of the city. Up to 200 people from Ukraine and abroad should take part in the festival.
If you find an error, please select a piece of text and press Ctrl + Enter.
Thank you!
Now the editors are aware.