Oradea Pride march proceeds despite gendarme warnings; organizers fined

The Oradea Pride march proceeded through the city center on Saturday, drawing over 700 participants according to organizers, despite warnings from the Gendarmerie and the absence of official authorization. Fines were issued to some attendees even before the march commenced.

Gathering near City Hall, participants displayed rainbow flags and symbols. Gendarmes repeatedly urged the crowd to disperse, citing the event's lack of approval and threatening sanctions. Organizers reported that several individuals were fined before the march began, with participants responding by singing "I don't care, I love it."

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Această adunare publică este neavizată. Vă rugăm să părăsiți zona. În caz contrar, veți fi sancționați conform Legii 60. Vă mulțumim

Iulian Dițiu, an organizer, received a 5,000 lei fine for organizing and participating in the unauthorized assembly. He argued that participants should not be fined as long as the march was not explicitly prohibited, calling the gendarmes' actions an abuse that violates the right to free assembly. Dițiu also stated that the city hall was notified but did not respond, and that the law does not require public gatherings to be authorized, only that they not be prohibited.

People's Advocate Renate Weber attended the march to support the organizers' right to peaceful assembly. She asserted that a Pride march is a peaceful gathering and criticized the Oradea mayor's stance, stating he misunderstood the law. Weber explained that authorization is not for exercising a right but for establishing a route and ensuring security, implying the mayor was incorrect in his interpretation.

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Lucrul acesta este un abuz și încalcă dreptul la liberă întrunire al participanților și al cetățenilor din Oradea