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Electoral manipulation left uninvestigated

25 January 2023
Issue: 8010 / Categories: Legal News , Human rights
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A legal challenge against the UK government’s decision not to order an investigation into Russian interference in UK democratic processes has cleared its first hurdle at the European Court of Human Rights.

MPs Ben Bradshaw, Caroline Lucas and Alyn Smith, supported by campaign group the Citizens, claim the government breached their Art 3, Protocol 1 right to free and fair elections by not investigating the findings of the Intelligence and Security Committee (the Russia report). The High Court rejected their claim in 2021 and refused permission to appeal.

However, the European Court confirmed last week it has accepted the case, and written to the UK government with a list of questions and a response deadline of 26 April.

Leigh Day partner Tessa Gregory and senior associate Tom Short, acting for the MPs, said the case ‘may have implications across Europe on the need for States to protect against foreign threats of manipulation and disinformation’.

Issue: 8010 / Categories: Legal News , Human rights
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