Last Updated on April 24, 2019 by LawEuro
FOURTH SECTION
CASE OF AVDIĆ AND OTHERS v. BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
(Application no. 47345/15 and 40 others –
see appended list)
JUDGMENT
STRASBOURG
7 February 2019
This judgment is final but it may be subject to editorial revision.
In the case of Avdić and Others v. Bosnia and Herzegovina,
The European Court of Human Rights (Fourth Section), sitting as a Committee composed of:
Georges Ravarani, President,
Marko Bošnjak,
Péter Paczolay, judges,
and LivTigerstedt, ActingDeputy Section Registrar,
Having deliberated in private on 17 January 2019,
Delivers the following judgment, which was adopted on that date:
PROCEDURE
1. The case originated in applications against Bosnia and Herzegovina lodged with the Court under Article 34 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (“the Convention”) on the various dates indicated in the appended table.
2. The applicants were represented by Ms H. Kapetan, a lawyer practising in Travnik.
3. Notice of the applications was given to the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina(“the Government”).
THE FACTS
4. The list of applicants and the relevant details of the applications are set out in the appended table.
5. The applicants complained of the non-enforcement or delayed enforcement of domestic decisions.
THE LAW
I. JOINDER OF THE APPLICATIONS
6. Having regard to the similar subject matter of the applications, the Court finds it appropriate to examine them jointly in a single judgment.
II. ALLEGED VIOLATION OF ARTICLE6 § 1 OF THE CONVENTION AND OF ARTICLE 1 OF PROTOCOL No. 1
7. The applicants complained of the non-enforcement or delayed enforcement of domestic decisions given in theirfavour.They relied, expressly or in substance, on Article 6 § 1 of the Convention and on Article 1 of Protocol No. 1, which read as follows:
Article 6 § 1
“In the determination of his civil rights and obligations … everyone is entitled to a fair … hearing … by [a] … tribunal …”
Article 1 of Protocol No. 1
“Every natural or legal person is entitled to the peaceful enjoyment of his possessions. No one shall be deprived of his possessions except in the public interest and subject to the conditions provided for by law and by the general principles of international law.
The preceding provisions shall not, however, in any way impair the right of a State to enforce such laws as it deems necessary to control the use of property in accordance with the general interest or to secure the payment of taxes or other contributions or penalties.”
8. The Court reiterates that the execution of a judgment given by any court must be regarded as an integral part of a “hearing” for the purposes of Article 6. It also refers to its case-law concerning the non-enforcement or delayed enforcement of final domestic judgments (see Hornsby v. Greece, no. 18357/91, § 40, Reports of Judgments and Decisions 1997‑II).
9. In the leading cases of Spahić and Others v. Bosnia and Herzegovina, nos. 20514/15 and 15 others, §§ 25-31, 14 November 2017, and Kunić and Others v. Bosnia and Herzegovina, nos. 68955/12 and 15 others, §§ 26‑31, 14 November 2017, the Court already found a violation in respect of issues similar to those in the present case.
10. The Court further notes that the decisions in the present applications ordered specific action to be taken. The Court therefore considers that the decisions in question constitute “possessions” within the meaning of Article 1 of Protocol No. 1.
11. Having examined all the material submitted to it, the Court has not found any fact or argument capable of persuading it to reach a different conclusion on the admissibility and merits of these complaints. Having regard to its case-law on the subject, the Court considers that in the instant case the authorities did not deploy all necessary efforts to enforce fully and in due time the decisions in the applicants’ favour.
12. These complaints are therefore admissible and disclose a breach of Article 6 § 1 of the Convention and Article 1 of Protocol No. 1.
III. APPLICATION OF ARTICLE 41 OF THE CONVENTION
13. Article 41 of the Convention provides:
“If the Court finds that there has been a violation of the Convention or the Protocols thereto, and if the internal law of the High Contracting Party concerned allows only partial reparation to be made, the Court shall, if necessary, afford just satisfaction to the injured party.”
14. Regard being had to the documents in its possession and to its case‑law (see, in particular, Spahić and Others v. Bosnia and Herzegovina, nos. 20514/15 and 15 others, §§ 36-43, 14 November 2017, and Kunić and Others v. Bosnia and Herzegovina, nos. 68955/12 and 15 others, §§ 37‑46, 14 November 2017), the Court considers it reasonable to award the sums indicated in the appended table.
15. The Court further notes that the respondent State has an outstanding obligation to enforce the judgments which remain enforceable.
16. The Court considers it appropriate that the default interest rate should be based on the marginal lending rate of the European Central Bank, to which should be added three percentage points.
FOR THESE REASONS, THE COURT, UNANIMOUSLY,
1. Decides to join the applications;
2. Declaresthe applications admissible;
3. Holds that these applications disclose a breach of Article 6 § 1 of the Convention and Article 1 of Protocol No. 1 concerning the non-enforcement or delayed enforcement of domestic decisions;
4. Holds that the respondent State shall ensure, by appropriate means, within three months, the enforcement of the pending domestic decisions referred to in the appended table;
5. Holds
(a) that the respondent State is to pay the applicants, within three months, the amounts indicated in the appended table, to be converted into the currency of the respondent State at the rate applicable at the date of settlement;
(b) that from the expiry of the above-mentioned three months until settlement simple interest shall be payable on the above amounts at a rate equal to the marginal lending rate of the European Central Bank during the default period plus three percentage points.
Done in English, and notified in writing on 7 February 2019, pursuant to Rule 77 §§ 2 and 3 of the Rules of Court.
LivTigerstedt Georges Ravarani
Acting Deputy Registrar President
APPENDIX
List of applications raising complaints under Article 6 § 1 of the Convention and Article 1 of the Protocol No. 1
(non-enforcement or delayed enforcement of domestic decisions)
| No. | Application no. Date of introduction |
Applicant’s name Date of birth |
Relevant domestic decision | Start date of non-enforcement period or date of entry into force of the Convention in respect of Bosnia and Herzegovina (12 July 2002) | End date of non-enforcement period Length of enforcement proceedings |
Amount awarded for non-pecuniary damage per applicant (in euros)[1] |
Amount awarded for costs and expenses per application (in euros)[2] |
| 1. | 47345/15 14/09/2015 |
Edita Avdić 02/03/1970 |
Novi Travnik Cantonal Court, 22/04/2009 | 27/05/2009 | pending More than 9 year(s) and 6 month(s) and 9 day(s) |
1,000 | 350 |
| 2. | 47413/15 14/09/2015 |
Radenka Šito 23/11/1952 |
Novi Travnik Cantonal Court, 22/04/2009 | 27/05/2009 | pending More than 9 year(s) and 6 month(s) and 9 day(s) |
1,000 | 350 |
| 3. | 47416/15 14/09/2015 |
Melika Zitouni-Perenda 20/03/1977 |
Novi Travnik Cantonal Court, 22/04/2009 | 27/05/2009 | pending More than 9 year(s) and 6 month(s) and 9 day(s) |
1,000 | 350 |
| 4. | 47981/15 03/09/2015 |
Ferid Jašarević 15/10/1950 |
Novi Travnik Cantonal Court, 24/08/2007 Travnik First Instance Court, 24/06/2009 |
23/01/2008
28/09/2012
|
pending More than 10 year(s) and 10 month(s) and 13 day(s)pending More than 6 year(s) and 2 month(s) and 8 day(s) |
1,000 | 350 |
| 5. | 48916/15 14/09/2015 |
Esref Tarakčija 06/10/1958 |
Novi Travnik Cantonal Court, 22/04/2009 | 27/05/2009 | pending More than 9 year(s) and 6 month(s) and 9 day(s) |
1,000 | 350 |
| 6. | 48918/15 14/09/2015 |
Mehmed Hadžić 07/04/1977 |
Novi Travnik Cantonal Court, 22/04/2009 | 27/05/2009 | pending More than 9 year(s) and 6 month(s) and 9 day(s) |
1,000 | 350 |
| 7. | 49017/15 19/09/2015 |
Tehvida Fifić 28/05/1958 |
Novi Travnik Cantonal Court, 22/04/2009 | 27/05/2009 | pending More than 9 year(s) and 6 month(s) and 9 day(s) |
1,000 | 350 |
| 8. | 49326/15 14/09/2015 |
Elma Pašalić 27/11/1972 |
Novi Travnik Cantonal Court, 22/04/2009 | 27/05/2009 | pending More than 9 year(s) and 6 month(s) and 9 day(s) |
1,000 | 350 |
| 9. | 49332/15 14/09/2015 |
Naza Muslimović 01/11/1976 |
Novi Travnik Cantonal Court, 22/04/2009 | 27/05/2009 | pending More than 9 year(s) and 6 month(s) and 9 day(s) |
1,000 | 350 |
| 10. | 49340/15 14/09/2015 |
Lamija Bradić 15/04/1973 |
Novi Travnik Cantonal Court, 22/04/2009 | 27/05/2009 | pending More than 9 year(s) and 6 month(s) and 9 day(s) |
1,000 | 350 |
| 11. | 49342/15 14/09/2015 |
Fatima Musić 19/08/1969 |
Novi Travnik Cantonal Court, 22/04/2009 | 27/05/2009 | pending More than 9 year(s) and 6 month(s) and 9 day(s) |
1,000 | 350 |
| 12. | 49365/15 14/09/2015 |
Vanesa Baltić 17/09/1972 |
Novi Travnik Cantonal Court, 22/04/2009 | 27/05/2009 | pending More than 9 year(s) and 6 month(s) and 9 day(s) |
1,000 | 350 |
| 13. | 49370/15 14/09/2015 |
Seima Duraković 15/05/1962 |
Novi Travnik Cantonal Court, 22/04/2009 | 27/05/2009 | pending More than 9 year(s) and 6 month(s) and 9 day(s) |
1,000 | 350 |
| 14. | 49371/15 14/09/2015 |
Nusret Tarakčija 06/10/1964 |
Novi Travnik Cantonal Court, 22/04/2009 | 27/05/2009
|
pending More than 9 year(s) and 6 month(s) and 9 day(s) |
1,000 | 350 |
| 15. | 55799/15 30/10/2015 |
Muamera Ciljević 31/07/1960 |
Novi Travnik Cantonal Court, 06/12/2007 Novi Travnik Cantonal Court, 28/05/2009 |
06/03/2008
15/06/2009
|
pending More than 10 year(s) and 9 month(s)pendingMore than 9 year(s) and 5 month(s) and 21 day(s) |
1,000 | 350 |
| 16. | 55806/15 30/10/2015 |
Adela Gaši 12/10/1977 |
Novi Travnik Cantonal Court, 06/12/2007 Novi Travnik Cantonal Court, 28/05/2009 |
06/03/2008
15/06/2009 |
pending More than 10 year(s) and 9 month(s)pending More than 9 year(s) and 5 month(s) and 21 day(s) |
1,000 | 350 |
| 17. | 55809/15 30/10/2015 |
Salem Jašarević 31/05/1971 |
Novi Travnik Cantonal Court, 06/12/2007 Novi Travnik Cantonal Court, 28/05/2009 |
06/03/2008
15/06/2009
|
pending More than 10 year(s) and 9 month(s)pending More than 9 year(s) and 5 month(s) and 21 day(s) |
1,000 | 350 |
| 18. | 55813/15 30/10/2015 |
Elvedina Hrustanović-Šehić 03/08/1979 |
Novi Travnik Cantonal Court, 28/05/2009 | 15/06/2009
|
pending More than 9 year(s) and 5 month(s) and 21 day(s) |
1,000 | 350 |
| 19. | 55815/15 30/10/2015 |
Đuma Arnautović 09/06/1949 |
Novi Travnik Cantonal Court, 06/12/2007 Novi Travnik Cantonal Court, 28/05/2009 |
06/03/2008
15/06/2009
|
pending More than 10 year(s) and 9 month(s)pending More than 9 year(s) and 5 month(s) and 21 day(s) |
1,000 | 350 |
| 20. | 55816/15
30/10/2015 |
Emina Kulaglić 24/02/1947 |
Novi Travnik Cantonal Court, 06/12/2007 Novi Travnik Cantonal Court, 28/05/2009 |
06/03/2008
15/06/2009
|
pending More than 10 year(s) and 9 month(s)pending More than 9 year(s) and 5 month(s) and 21 day(s) |
1,000 | 350 |
| 21. | 55818/15
30/10/2015 |
Bahra Purić 19/10/1965 |
Novi Travnik Cantonal Court, 06/12/2007
Novi Travnik Cantonal Court, 28/05/2009 |
06/03/2008
15/06/2009
|
pending More than 10 year(s) and 9 month(s)pending More than 9 year(s) and 5 month(s) and 21 day(s) |
1,000 | 350 |
| 22. | 55820/15 30/10/2015 |
Aida Kasumović 09/11/1980 |
Novi Travnik Cantonal Court, 06/12/2007
Novi Travnik Cantonal Court, 28/05/2009 |
06/03/2008
15/06/2009
|
pending More than 10 year(s) and 9 month(s) pending More than 9 year(s) and 5 month(s) and 21 day(s) |
1,000 | 350 |
| 23. | 55826/15 30/10/2015 |
Danica Gazdić 28/12/1947 |
Novi Travnik Cantonal Court, 06/12/2007 | 06/03/2008 | pending More than 10 year(s) and 9 month(s) |
1,000 | 350 |
| 24. | 56016/15 30/10/2015 |
Alma Arnautović 21/01/1978 |
Novi Travnik Cantonal Court, 28/05/2009 | 15/06/2009 | pending More than 9 year(s) and 5 month(s) and 21 day(s) |
1,000 | 350 |
| 25. | 56020/15
30/10/2015 |
Sabaheta Husanović 10/11/1954 |
Novi Travnik Cantonal Court, 06/12/2007 Novi Travnik Cantonal Court, 28/05/2009 |
06/03/2008
15/06/2009
|
pending
More than 10 year(s) and 9 month(s)
pending More than 9 year(s) and 5 month(s) and 21 day(s) |
1,000 | 350 |
| 26. | 56025/15 30/10/2015 |
Adem Abazović 30/03/1959 |
Novi Travnik Cantonal Court, 06/12/2007 Novi Travnik Cantonal Court, 28/05/2009 |
06/03/2008
15/06/2009
|
pending
More than 10 year(s) and 9 month(s)
pending More than 9 year(s) and 5 month(s) and 21 day(s) |
1,000 | 350 |
| 27. | 56026/15 30/10/2015 |
Seada Abazović 20/05/1962 |
Novi Travnik Cantonal Court, 06/12/2007
Novi Travnik Cantonal Court, 28/05/2009 |
06/03/2008
15/06/2009
|
pending More than 10 year(s) and 9 month(s)pending More than 9 year(s) and 5 month(s) and 21 day(s) |
1,000 | 350 |
| 28. | 56027/15 30/10/2015 |
Maliha Kasumović 19/11/1960 |
Novi Travnik Cantonal Court, 06/12/2007 Novi Travnik Cantonal Court, 28/05/2009 |
06/03/2008
15/06/2009
|
pending More than 10 year(s) and 9 month(s)pending More than 9 year(s) and 5 month(s) and 21 day(s) |
1,000 | 350 |
| 29. | 56030/15 30/10/2015 |
Fadila Karahodža 24/09/1977 |
Novi Travnik Cantonal Court, 06/12/2007 Novi Travnik Cantonal Court, 28/05/2009 |
06/03/2008
15/06/2009
|
pending More than 10 year(s) and 9 month(s) pendingMore than 9 year(s) and 5 month(s) and 21 day(s) |
1,000 | 350 |
| 30. | 56031/15 30/10/2015 |
Salko Gazdić 15/02/1945 |
Novi Travnik Cantonal Court, 06/12/2007 Novi Travnik Cantonal Court, 28/05/2009 |
06/03/2008
15/06/2009
|
pending More than 10 year(s) and 9 month(s)pending More than 9 year(s) and 5 month(s) and 21 day(s) |
1,000 | 350 |
| 31. | 56033/15 30/10/2015 |
Sefija Husanović 02/04/1964 |
Novi Travnik Cantonal Court, 06/12/2007
Novi Travnik Cantonal Court, 28/05/2009 |
06/03/2008
15/06/2009
|
pending
More than 10 year(s) and 9 month(s)
pending More than 9 year(s) and 5 month(s) and 21 day(s) |
1,000 | 350 |
| 32. | 56037/15 30/10/2015 |
Husein Kasumović
25/01/1970 |
Novi Travnik Cantonal Court, 28/05/2009 | 15/06/2009
|
pending
More than 9 year(s) and 5 month(s) and 21 day(s) |
1,000 | 350 |
| 33. | 4686/16 30/12/2015 |
Zihnija Aganović 29/09/1957 |
Travnik First Instance Court, 02/06/2010 Travnik First Instance Court, 30/04/2012 Travnik First Instance Court, 28/01/2014 |
20/12/2010
29/11/2012
12/09/2014
|
pending More than 7 year(s) and 11 month(s) and 16 day(s)pending More than 6 year(s) and 7 day(s)
pending More than 4 year(s) and 2 month(s) and 24 day(s) |
1,000 | 350 |
| 34. | 4714/16 30/12/2015 |
Nusret Jahić 23/10/1961 |
Travnik First Instance Court, 02/06/2010
Travnik First Instance Court, 30/04/2012 |
20/12/2010
29/11/2012
12/09/2014
|
pending More than 7 year(s) and 11 month(s) and 16 day(s)pending More than 6 year(s) and 7 day(s)
pending More than 4 year(s) and 2 month(s) and 24 day(s) |
1,000 | 350 |
| 35. | 54201/17 19/07/2017 |
Jelka Vasić 18/05/1963 |
Travnik First Instance Court, 01/07/2009
Travnik First Instance Court, 20/05/2010 |
16/02/2010
06/12/2010
|
pending More than 8 year(s) and 9 month(s) and 20 day(s)pending More than 8 year(s)
|
1,000 | 350 |
| 36. | 25938/18 28/05/2018 |
Enver Duranović 07/08/1958 |
Travnik First Instance Court, 12/12/2012 | 21/09/2015 | pending More than 3 year(s) and 2 month(s) and 15 day(s) |
1,000 | 350 |
| 37. | 25939/18 28/05/2018 |
Sejad Biogradlija 21/07/1970 |
Novi Travnik Cantonal Court, 22/12/2010 | 25/04/2011
|
pending More than 7 year(s) and 7 month(s) and 11 day(s) |
1,000 | 350 |
| 38. | 26579/18 25/05/2018 |
Mustafa Tihak 26/10/1979 |
Travnik First Instance Court, 02/09/2011
Travnik First Instance Court, 31/01/2013 |
21/11/2011 13/02/2015 |
pending More than 7 year(s) and 15 day(s)pending More than 3 year(s) and 9 month(s) and 23 day(s) |
1,000 | 350 |
| 39. | 26585/18 25/05/2018 |
Drago Milinović 16/07/1970 |
Travnik Cantonal Court, 22/12/2010 | 25/04/2011 | pending More than 7 year(s) and 7 month(s) and 11 day(s) |
1,000 | 350 |
| 40. | 26590/18 25/05/2018 |
Mesud Agić 24/07/1948 |
Bugojno First Instance Court, 12/09/2014 | 15/12/2015 | pending More than 2 year(s) and 11 month(s) and 21 day(s) |
1,000 | 350 |
| 41. | 26599/18 31/05/2018 |
Alvedina Pajić 16/06/1975 |
Travnik First Instance Court, 02/12/2013 | 24/09/2014 | pending More than 4 year(s) and 2 month(s) and 12 day(s) |
1,000 | 350 |
[1]. Plus any tax that may be chargeable to the applicants.
[2]. Plus any tax that may be chargeable to the applicants.
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