Court aquits Geneva climate protestors

A court has acquitted three climate activists who threw paint at a UBS branch in Geneva three years ago.

The activists, aged 71,44 and 37, are members of Renovate Switzerland. They were protesting about the bank being a large property owner and is not doing enough to insulate and renovate its property, contributing to climate damage. 

The bank dropped charges of damage after the protestors agreed to pay cleaning costs and judges ruled the demonstration was protected by freedom of assembly rights.

The court also looked at case law from the European Court of Human Rights which says peaceful gatherings which only cause minimal public nuisance should be treated leniently.

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