Whether prohibition of demonstration of Nazi and Communist symbols is contradictory to Article 25 of the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania?

Lietuvoje 2008-aisiais metais įsigaliojo Lietuvos Respublikos susirinkimų įstatymo 8 straipsnio 5 punktas bei Lietuvos Respublikos administracinių teisės pažeidimų kodekso 18818 straipsnis. Šios įstatyminės normos draudžia naudoti nacistinius ir komunistinius simbolius susirinkimuose, masiniuose renginiuose bei kitaip demonstruoti. Tokiu būdu siekiama apsaugoti demokratinės visuomenės narius nuo nacistinių ir komunistinių okupacinių režimų propagandos, užkirsti kelią kurtis antidemokratines idėjas propaguojančioms organizacijoms. Tačiau kai kurie draudžiami simboliai gali būti suprantami ne vien tik kaip nacistiniai ar komunistiniai, todėl ne visais atvejais jų demonstravimas ar naudojimas pažeis svarbias kitų asmenų teises ir laisves. Šio darbo tikslas yra įvertinti, ar šie draudimai neprieštarauja Lietuvos Respublikos Konstitucijos 25 straipsnyje įtvirtintai saviraiškos laisvei. Saviraiškos laisvė – viena iš pagrindinių žmogaus teisių, įtvirtinta daugumos demokratinių valstybių konstitucijose bei įvairiose konvencijose, tačiau ji nėra absoliuti. Siekiant įvertinti, ar draudimas demonstruoti nacistinius bei komunistinius simbolius neprieštarauja saviraiškos laisvei, analizuojami principai, kuriais remiantis galima riboti saviraiškos laisvę, taip pat vertybės, kurias siekiama apsaugoti nustatant saviraiškos laisvės apribojimus. Analizuojant principus bei saugomas vertybes, daugiausia remiamasi Lietuvos Respublikos Konstitucijos bei Europos žmogaus teisių ir pagrindinių laisvių apsaugos konvencijos nuostatais, Lietuvos Respublikos Konstitucinio Teismo bei Europos Žmogaus Teisių Teismo išaiškinimais. Įstatymai, draudžiantys demonstruoti nacistinius ir komunistinius simbolius, lyginami su kai kurių kitų Europos valstybių įstatymais, atliekančiais panašią funkciją.In 2008 Lithuanian Parliament enacted new laws prohibiting use of Nazi and Communist symbols during meetings and other mass events or other kinds of demonstration (Article 8(5) of Law on Meetings of Republic of Lithuania and Article 18818 of Administrative Violations Code of Republic of Lithuania). The purpose of this prohibition is to protect members of democratic society from propaganda of Nazi and Communist occupation regimes and to prevent the establishment of organizations that propagates antidemocratic ideas. However, some of the prohibited symbols may be understood not only as of Nazis or Communists, therefore they would not breach fundamental rights and freedoms of other members of the society. Freedom of expression is one of the fundamental human rights. It is mentioned in most constitutions of most democratic states and international conventions. However, freedom of expression is not absolute. In order to be restricted it has to meet some requirements. The requirements are being analyzed in this master project according to provisions of the Constitution of Lithuanian Republic and the European Convention on Human Rights and case-law regarding freedom of expression of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Lithuania and the European Court of Human Rights. Laws prohibiting demonstration of Nazi and Communist symbols are being compared to some other European states’ laws of the same function. The purpose of this master project is to evaluate whether the prohibition to demonstrate Nazi and Communist symbols not contradicts freedom of expression that is mentioned in Article 25 of the Constitution of Lithuanian Republic. The hypothesis is: the prohibition to demonstrate Nazi and Communist symbols is contradictory to freedom of expression. In order to restrict freedom of expression, three main principles have to be considered. The principles are: 1) the restriction has to be prescribed by law, 2) in is necessary in a democratic society for the protection for the rights of others etc., 3) the restriction has to be proportionate to the aims pursued. The three principles have been mentioned in case-law of the European Court of Human Rights as well as the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Lithuania. The analysis of the Lithuanian laws prohibiting demonstration of Nazi and Communist symbols is made on teleological approach mainly referring to Explanatory Text for the Act Amending Administrative Violations Code of Republic of Lithuania with Article 18818 and of Article 225 Project. One of the purposes of the laws is to prevent the demonstration of Nazi and Communist symbols that would be understood as propaganda of Nazi and Communist occupation regimes. Having in mind history of Lithuania in 20th century and ideology of Nazi and Communist regimes, preventing Lithuanian society from Nazi and Communist occupation regimes propaganda by prohibiting the demonstration of Nazi and Communist symbols is a proportionate measure. It is also necessary in a democratic society because the propaganda of these regimes breaches human rights, is a threat to a democratic system and public order. The restriction, it might be said, is prescribed by law as Articles 25(3) and 25(4) of the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania allows the restriction of freedom of expression in order to protect human health, honour and dignity, private life, morals and constitutional order, to prevent ethnical, racial, religious, social hatred, violation, discriminatory incitement, etc. However, the purpose of the laws prohibiting Nazi and Communist symbols was not interpreted exactly the same by the Supreme Administrative Court of Lithuania. It explained the Article 18818 of the Administrative Violations Code using linguistic approach and stated that every manner of demonstration of Nazi or Communist symbols are prohibited except from what is provided in the same article – museums’ expositions, public relations about historical facts and current affairs, totalitarian regimes, with intention of education, science, art, antiquarian trading, use of existing states’ symbols and participant of World War II who wears his own uniform. For all other manners of using Nazi or Communist symbols any person supposed to be punished with a fine between 500 and 1.000 Lt. As the Supreme Administrative Court of Lithuania did not take into account the legislative purpose to prevent propaganda it seems to be inconsistent with the core of the law prohibiting Nazi and Communist symbols. Moreover, such measure to achieve the aim pursued seems disproportionate and unnecessary in democratic society.Vytauto Didžiojo universiteta