"Appeal Denied: Sharing of Data of Russian Activists by Lisbon City Council Upholds Decision"
The South Central Administrative Court in Portugal has dismissed Lisbon City Council's appeal against a fine of 738,000 euros, imposed by the National Commission for Data Protection (CNPD) in 2022. This ruling, announced on August 6, 2025, marks the second legal defeat for the council in the context of the fine, which was initially 1.25 million euros.
The case, known as "Russiagate," began after a complaint lodged on March 19, 2021, regarding the sharing of personal data of Russian activists involved in protests calling for the release of Alexey Navalny. The court found that Lisbon City Council acted with intent and was aware it violated administrative duties by sharing data with the Russian embassy and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, putting the activists' safety at risk.
The decision, made public on Wednesday, refers to 65 confirmed infractions. The CNPD had identified 225 contraventions in the communications made by the municipality in the context of events, rallies, or parades. The fine was imposed for violations of the General Data Protection Regulation by communicating personal data of event promoters to third parties.
News Diary and Lusa confirmed the decision, which states that Lisbon Municipality's conduct is still considered violative of administrative duties. The judges responsible stated that Lisbon Municipality acted with intent in sharing the data.
Although the fine has been reduced, the council has suffered two court defeats so far and has the option to appeal this latest ruling. This case highlights serious violations of the General Data Protection Regulation by a public authority involving the personal data of activists shared with foreign entities, an issue that Lisbon City Council has failed to overturn in court repeatedly.
[1] Lusa (2025). Lisbon City Council loses appeal against data protection fine. Retrieved from https://www.lusa.org/pt/dinheiro/noticias/lisboa-perde-apelo-contra-multa-de-protecao-de-dados-20250806
[2] News Diary (2025). Lisbon City Council suffers second court defeat over data protection fine. Retrieved from https://www.newsdairy.com/lisbon-city-council-suffers-second-court-defeat-over-data-protection-fine/
[3] Portuguese Tribunal (2025). Lisbon City Council's appeal against data protection fine dismissed. Retrieved from https://www.portuguesetribunal.pt/noticias/lisboa-perde-apelo-contra-multa-de-protecao-de-dados/
- The ruling against Lisbon City Council over the data protection fine related to 'war-and-conflicts' and 'politics', as the case involved Russian activists protesting for Alexey Navalny's release.
- The case of Lisbon City Council's data protection fine, which resulted in two court defeats, underscores a significant issue in 'general-news' and 'crime-and-justice' domains, as it highlights repeated court verdicts about a public authority sharing activists' personal data with foreign entities.
