European rights court finds France guilty in killing of environmental activist Remi Fraisse

By Ilayda Cakirtekin

ISTANBUL (AA) – The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) found France guilty in the case of Remi Fraisse, according to a press release issued Thursday.

The court ruled that Fraisse's death violated Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which protects the right to life.

Fraisse, an environmental activist, was killed by an offensive grenade during a law enforcement operation at the Sivens site in October 2014, amid violent clashes between anti-dam protesters and mobile gendarmes.

The court pointed out that the legal guidelines on the use of weapons were unclear, leaving law enforcement without proper direction.

While the offensive grenade was legally allowed, the court described its use as “exceptionally dangerous” and noted that the regulations were not detailed enough to ensure a gradual use of force.

The court concluded that due to flaws in the legal and administrative framework and poor supervision of the operation, proper protection against the use of potentially lethal force was not provided, resulting in a violation of Article 2.