Berlin authorities ordered to compensate Last Generation protestors for expenses related to glue-solvent costs
Berlin Higher Administrative Court Rules Against Glue-Removal Fees for Climate Activists
In a significant development, the Berlin Higher Administrative Court (OVG) has ruled against the Berlin police's practice of charging climate activists for glue-removal service fees. This decision, made on September 10th, 2023, came after an appeal by the police against a decision made by the administrative court last year.
The specific case involves a Last Generation activist who glued his hands to a street intersection in June 2022. He was later removed by police, for which he was demanded to pay a fee of €241 by the authorities for the glue-removal service.
The court's ruling stated that there was no legal basis for the glue-removal service fees. This decision is a step towards acknowledging the rights of climate activists to peacefully protest in Berlin, and a significant blow to the controversial practice that is seen as a punishment for peaceful protest.
The police had justified the fee citing a "threat to public safety and order" caused by the protester's demonstration. However, the court's opinion was that the protester had enough means to leave the street himself and the police removed him against his will.
This ruling highlights the ongoing tensions between climate activists and authorities in Berlin. The Berlin police have sent out nearly 1,300 glue-removal fees to climate activists by September 2023, a practice that is now required to be discontinued.
With this ruling, the police must reimburse this activist for the glue-removal service fee, and in future will not be able to charge other demonstrators for the same so-called service. The requirement for Berlin police to reimburse activists for glue-removal service fees is a recent development, and it remains to be seen how this will impact future protests and the relationship between climate activists and authorities in Berlin.
For those seeking more detailed information about this case, it is recommended to consult official German legal databases, Berlin court records, or reputable local news sources for the latest updates on this issue.
This Berlin Higher Administrative Court ruling against glue-removal fees for climate activists has sparked debates in the general news and politics spheres, shedding light on the ongoing tensions between the authorities and war-and-conflicts-focused activists in Berlin. The court's decision, seen as a victory for crime-and-justice advocates, also raises questions about the future of protests and police-activist relations in the city.
