Ādamsons v. Latvia, No. 3669/03, ECtHR (Third Section), 24 June 2008

Ineligibility for election of a former member of a military unit affiliated to the KGB.

Art. 3, Prot. 1 ECHR

1.  Within a particular socio-historical context, especially a changing one, certain electoral rights may be substantially restricted without this necessarily constituting a violation of Article 3 of Prot. 1 of the ECHR.

2. When electoral law places limits on the right to stand as a candidate in respect of certain citizens, in a general and broad manner, it violates Article 3 of Prot. 1 of the ECHR.
(The applicant, a former officer of the Border Guard of the Soviet Union, after holding important military and institutional posts in the armed forces of Latvia stood for parliamentary elections. The Electoral Commission, however, rejected his candidature on the ground that he was connected with the KGB during his previous employment as a border guard).