49. The European Court of Human Rights has interpreted the principle of free elections of Article 3 of Protocol No. 1 of the European Convention on Human Rights in relation to the principle of equality. According to the Court, the expression “under conditions which will ensure the free expression of the opinion of the people in the choice of the legislature” implies “the principle of equality of treatment of all citizens in the exercise of their right to vote and their right to stand for election”. [24]
