BOLKVADZE AND OTHERS v. GEORGIA

Communicated on 5 July 2019 FIFTH SECTIONApplication no. 17354/19Nino BOLKVADZE and othersagainst Georgialodged on 9 March 2019SUBJECT MATTER OF THE CASEThe application concerns the alleged breach of the applicants’ freedom of expression on account of their being prevented from wearing rainbow‑coloured armbands and exhibiting rainbow flags, banners and posters during a football match in Tbilisi. On 9 September 2018 the applicants went to a stadium to see a football match between Georgia and Latvia. In order to show their support for one of the Georgian players, G.K., who had won the Equal Game award by UEFA for promoting diversity, inclusion and equality in the European football, the applicants wore rainbow-coloured armbands. They also had with them rainbow-coloured flags and various posters, stickers, and banners depicting their support for the idea of equality. The applicants allege th …