What are the general conditions for organising meetings, processions or pickets?

important All meetings, processions or pickets must be registered with the respective municipality in advance.

To register a meeting, procession or picket, the organiser of the event must submit an application to the local government of the administrative territory in which the event is to be held not earlier than four months and not later than ten working days before the event. If an event is organised about an issue about which it was reasonably impossible to know earlier than 10 working days in advance, the application for organising such meeting, procession, or picket shall be submitted as soon as possible, but not later than 24 hours before the event takes place. The law lists the requirements for the application and the procedure for its submission.

The law also lists exceptions for which notice need not be given.

After notice is given, the municipality may allow or conditionally allow the event to take place. It may also decide to prohibit it.

What human rights violation may there be?

If you are prohibited or held back from conducting a lawful meeting, procession or picket, your right to assembly or freedom of expression may have been violated.

Any restrictions on the freedom of assembly or freedom of expression must be prescribed by law, pursue a legitimate aim, and be necessary in a democratic society. If they fail to meet any one of these three requirements, such a restriction cannot be considered justified.

Read more about freedom of assembly and freedom of expression in this Guide.

Resources

Last updated 27/01/2023