Podgorica, (MINA-BUSINESS) – The Administrative Court has upheld a lawsuit filed by the Union of Free Trade Unions of Montenegro (USSCG) and annulled the decision of the Ministry of the Interior – Police Administration that had prohibited a rally in Tivat on the day of the European Union–Western Balkans Leaders’ Summit.

“USSCG welcomes the Administrative Court of Montenegro’s ruling of 23 June, which annulled the decision banning the public rally 'Together for 100!' in Tivat on 5 June, the day of the EU–Western Balkans Summit,” the Union said in a press release.

According to USSCG, the Administrative Court upheld the right to freedom of assembly as one of the fundamental freedoms of citizens, as the union had expected when it filed the lawsuit.

In the reasoning behind its ruling, the panel of judges stated that the decision banning the public rally violated the rights guaranteed under Article 52 of the Constitution of Montenegro and Article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights. 

The court found that the decision lacked “convincing reasons regarding the justification for banning the peaceful assembly, or the assessment that the rally would endanger the public interest in preserving public order and peace, as well as the safety of people and property”. 

It also concluded that there were “no decisive reasons demonstrating that a fair balance had been struck between the claimants' fundamental freedoms and the alleged risk of violence or other large-scale disturbances of public order”.