Moldova has lost a case at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) brought by Genderdoc-M. The country must pay €4,500 in compensation for non-pecuniary damage.
Admit it: this sounds a little surreal. For six years, the current regime has been doing almost everything to embrace these minorities—quite literally, one might say. Though who knows? Yet they are still demanding money for moral harm.
But that is what happened. The case concerns restrictions imposed by Chisinau’s municipal authorities in 2013 and earlier, when Dorin Chirtoacă was still the city’s mayor. This also says something about how long ECHR decisions can take.
At the time, the city hall did not ban LGBT marches outright. Instead, it moved them to less central areas of Chisinau. The stated reason was to protect participants from Moldovans who were not especially tolerant.
These restrictions severely limited the rights of sexual minorities. They wanted to march along the capital’s main streets in a parade, as victors would. The restrictions upset them deeply. Arguments about their own safety did nothing to change their minds.
The result? The state now has a completely different government, one that is extremely friendly toward LGBT people. And this government will gladly pay them compensation from public funds.
Different Rules for Other Peaceful Gatherings?
The new regime regularly restricts other peaceful gatherings. These include the Family March, held in opposition to LGBT marches, and events marking Victory Day.
Sadly, the victors under Maia Sandu are different people. They march not under red flags, but under rainbow flags.
It will be interesting to see whether the ECHR will rule in favor of those whose right to peaceful assembly is being violated today. Will it take at least another 13 years?
And will the ECHR even still exist by then?
