Fraisse et al. v. France: Against the normalization of systemic violence in protest policing

Can the lethal use of an explosive grenade by law enforcement during a protest ever be justified? This question is at the heart of Fraisse et al. v. France (27 February 2025, nos. 22525/21 and 47626/21), a case brought before the ECtHR following the death of 21-year-old Rémi Fraisse during a demonstration against a dam project in 2014. The case examines not only the circumstances of his death, but the legal and operational framework that allowed a military-grade weapon to be used in a civilian protest – and whether the state fulfilled its obligation to protect the right to life.