The Lisbon City Council has suffered another legal setback in the controversial Russiagate case, with the South Central Administrative Court dismissing its appeal against a hefty fine. The court ruled the council's actions as "intentional" in sharing personal data of Russian activists, leading to a fine now set at 738,000 euros.
The Case Details
The fine was initially imposed by the National Data Protection Commission (CNPD) in 2022, amounting to 1.25 million euros, for violating the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The council was found guilty of sharing personal data of protest organizers with third parties, including the Russian Embassy in Portugal and the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Activists' Plight
The data breach involved dissidents protesting against the Russian regime, who had organized a demonstration in January 2021 demanding the release of opposition leader Alexey Navalny. They argued that the disclosure of their data by the Lisbon City Council endangered their safety and that of their families in Russia.
Legal Proceedings
The court's decision, made public recently, emphasized that the council acted with "dolus" (intent), fully aware of its administrative duty violations. This marks the second legal defeat for the council in this case, with the fine reduced from the original amount due to the expiration of some offenses.
What's Next?
The ruling is subject to appeal, leaving room for further legal battles. The case has sparked widespread debate on data protection and political activism in Portugal.
Read also: [Opposition in Lisbon: PGR's opinion on police "cannot be ignored"]
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