Restricting the right to freedom of assembly : the case of Barankevich v Russia

This article discusses restrictions on the freedom to worship in Russia. The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) judgment in Barankevich v Russia (No. 10519/03, 26/7/2007) was the first concerning freedom of assembly against the Russian Federation. In this case the local authorities refused permission to the pastor of the Christ’s Grace Church of Evangelical Christians to hold a service of worship in a park in the town of Chekhov. The appeal against this decision was ultimately dismissed on the grounds that the church was diff erent from those of the majority of local residents and a service could have led to discontent and public disorder. In its judgment the European Court considered the ban to have been unnecessary in a democratic society and found a violation of Art. 11 (freedom of assembly) interpreted in the light of Art. 9 (freedom of thought, conscience and religion)