A decision by Ukraine’s authorities refusing a woman’s wish to change her middle name to honour her stepfather breached human rights law.

Having lived together with her mother, stepfather and halfbrother for many years, she wished to change her patronymic – the middle name derived from the father’s forename – from the name derived from her biological father’s name to one derived from her stepfather’s.

Human rights judges today signalled to Ukraine’s authorities that they must update Soviet-era laws on the right to peaceful assembly, to establish the requirements for the organisation and holding of peaceful demonstrations as well as the grounds for their restriction.