SAVVA TERENTYEV v. RUSSIA JUDGMENT 21 distinction between shocking and offensive language which is protected by Article 10 of the Convention and that which forfeits its right to tolerance in a democratic society (see, for a similar approach, Vajnai v. Hungary, no. 33629/06, §§ 53 and 57, ECHR 2008). The key issue in the present case is thus whether the applicant’s statements, when read as a whole and in their context, could be seen as promoting violence, hatred or intolerance (see Perinçek, cited above, § 240). 70. In that connection, it is noteworthy that the applicant posted his comment in the context of a discussion prompted by a press release of Memorial, which gave information on a search by the police of the office of a newspaper which was supporting an opposition candidate in the regional parliamentary election (see paragraph 9 above). The participants of the discussion expressed their critical views on the alleged practices of those “who [had] the power” whereby the police were “seconded for a fight with the political opposition” and on the police’s readiness to be “the regime’s faithful dogs” and to participate actively in such actions (see paragraphs 1011 above). It is thus clear that the discussion raised the issue of the alleged involvement of the police in silencing and oppressing the political opposition in the period of an electoral campaign and therefore concerned a matter of general and public concern, a sphere in which restrictions of freedom of expression are to be strictly construed (see paragraph 62 above). The Court furthermore reaffirms that it is particularly important in the period preceding an election that opinions and information of all kinds are permitted to circulate freely (see Długołęcki v. Poland, no. 23806/03, § 30, 24 February 2009). 71. The applicant’s comment, made as a part of that debate, shows his emotional disapproval and rejection of what he saw as abuse of authority by the police and conveys his sceptical and sarcastic point of view on the moral and ethical standards of the personnel of the Russian police. Seen in this perspective, the statements in question can be understood as a scathing criticism of the current state of affairs in the Russian police and, in particular, the lack of rigour in the recruitment of their personnel. 72. The Court further notes that the passage about “[ceremonial]” incineration of “infidel cops” in “Auschwitz-[like]” ovens is particularly aggressive and hostile in tone. However, it is not convinced that, as the domestic courts considered, that passage can actually be interpreted as a call for “[the police officers’] physical extermination by ordinary people” (see paragraph 24 above). Rather it was used as a provocative metaphor, which frantically affirmed the applicant’s wish to see the police “cleansed” of corrupt and abusive officers (“infidel cops”), and was his emotional appeal to take measures with a view to improving the situation. 73. The Court stresses that its considerations in the previous two paragraphs should not be taken as an approval of the language used by the applicant or the tone of his text. The reference to the Auschwitz