{"id":17794,"date":"2022-01-14T08:19:44","date_gmt":"2022-01-14T08:19:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/laweuro.com\/?p=17794"},"modified":"2022-01-14T08:19:44","modified_gmt":"2022-01-14T08:19:44","slug":"case-of-szekely-and-others-v-romania-european-court-of-human-rights-33498-16-and-8-others","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/laweuro.com\/?p=17794","title":{"rendered":"CASE OF SZEKELY AND OTHERS v. ROMANIA (European Court of Human Rights) 33498\/16 and 8 others"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The applicants complained of the inadequate conditions of their detention.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">FOURTH SECTION<br \/>\n<strong>CASE OF SZEKELY AND OTHERS v. ROMANIA<\/strong><br \/>\n<em>(Application no. 33498\/16 and 8 others \u2013 see appended list)<\/em><br \/>\nJUDGMENT<br \/>\nSTRASBOURG<br \/>\n13 January 2022<\/p>\n<p>This judgment is final but it may be subject to editorial revision.<\/p>\n<p><strong>In the case of Szekely and Others v. Romania,<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The European Court of Human Rights (Fourth Section), sitting as a Committee composed of:<\/p>\n<p>Armen Harutyunyan, President,<br \/>\nJolien Schukking,<br \/>\nAna Maria Guerra Martins, judges,<br \/>\nand Viktoriya Maradudina, Acting Deputy Section Registrar,<\/p>\n<p>Having deliberated in private on 9 December 2021,<\/p>\n<p>Delivers the following judgment, which was adopted on that date:<\/p>\n<p><strong>PROCEDURE<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>1. The case originated in applications against Romania lodged with the Court under Article\u00a034 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (\u201cthe Convention\u201d) on the various dates indicated in the appended table.<\/p>\n<p>2. The Romanian Government (\u201cthe\u00a0Government\u201d) were given notice of the applications.<\/p>\n<p><strong>THE FACTS<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>3. The list of applicants and the relevant details of the applications are set out in the appended table.<\/p>\n<p>4. The applicants complained of the inadequate conditions of their detention.<\/p>\n<p><strong>THE LAW<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I. JOINDER OF THE APPLICATIONS<\/p>\n<p>5. Having regard to the similar subject matter of the applications, the Court finds it appropriate to examine them jointly in a single judgment.<\/p>\n<p>II. ALLEGED VIOLATION OF ARTICLE\u00a03 OF THE CONVENTION<\/p>\n<p>6. The applicants complained of the inadequate conditions of their detention. They relied on Article 3 of the Convention, which reads as follows:<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Article 3<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo one shall be subjected to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>7. The Court notes that the applicants were kept in detention in poor conditions. The details of the applicants\u2019 detention are indicated in the appended table. The Court refers to the principles established in its case\u2011law regarding inadequate conditions of detention (see, for instance, Mur\u0161i\u0107 v.\u00a0Croatia [GC], no.\u00a07334\/13, \u00a7\u00a7\u00a096\u2011101, ECHR 2016). It reiterates in particular that a serious lack of space in a prison cell weighs heavily as a factor to be taken into account for the purpose of establishing whether the detention conditions described are \u201cdegrading\u201d from the point of view of Article\u00a03 and may disclose a violation, both alone or taken together with other shortcomings (see Mur\u0161i\u0107, cited above, \u00a7\u00a7\u00a0122\u201141, and Ananyev and Others v.\u00a0Russia, nos. 42525\/07 and 60800\/08, \u00a7\u00a7\u00a0149\u201159, 10\u00a0January 2012).<\/p>\n<p>8. In the leading case of Rezmive\u0219 and Others v. Romania, nos. 61467\/12 and 3 others, 25 April 2017, the Court already found a violation in respect of issues similar to those in the present case.<\/p>\n<p>9. Having examined all the material submitted to it and the arguments raised by the parties, including the Government\u2019s objection related to the non-exhaustion of domestic remedies, 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 (including its findings in the recent case of Polgar v. Romania, no. 39412\/19, \u00a7\u00a7 94-97, 20 July 2021), the Court considers that in the instant case the applicants\u2019 conditions of detention, as described in the table appended below, were inadequate.<\/p>\n<p>10. These complaints are therefore admissible and disclose a breach of Article 3 of the Convention.<\/p>\n<p>III. REMAINING COMPLAINTS<\/p>\n<p>11. In application no.\u00a047436\/16 the applicant also raised other complaints under Article 3 of the Convention.<\/p>\n<p>12. The Court has examined the application and considers that, in the light of all the material in its possession and in so far as the matters complained of are within its competence, these complaints either do not meet the admissibility criteria set out in Articles\u00a034 and\u00a035 of the Convention or do not disclose any appearance of a violation of the rights and freedoms enshrined in the Convention or the Protocols thereto.<\/p>\n<p>It follows that this part of the application must be rejected in accordance with Article\u00a035\u00a0\u00a7\u00a04 of the Convention.<\/p>\n<p>IV. APPLICATION OF ARTICLE\u00a041 OF THE CONVENTION<\/p>\n<p>13. Article\u00a041 of the Convention provides:<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf 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.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>14. Regard being had to the documents in its possession and to its case\u2011law (see, in particular, Rezmive\u0219 and Others, cited above), the Court considers it reasonable to award the sums indicated in the appended table.<\/p>\n<p>15. The Court further 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.<\/p>\n<p><strong>FOR THESE REASONS, THE COURT, UNANIMOUSLY,<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>1. Decides to join the applications;<\/p>\n<p>2. Declares the complaints concerning the inadequate conditions of detention, as specified in the appended table, admissible,\u00a0and the remainder of the application no.\u00a047436\/16 inadmissible;<\/p>\n<p>3. Holds that these complaints disclose a breach of Article\u00a03 of the Convention concerning the inadequate conditions of detention;<\/p>\n<p>4. Holds<\/p>\n<p>(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;<\/p>\n<p>(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.<\/p>\n<p>Done in English, and notified in writing on 13 January 2022, pursuant to Rule\u00a077\u00a0\u00a7\u00a7\u00a02 and\u00a03 of the Rules of Court.<\/p>\n<p>Viktoriya Maradudina \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Armen Harutyunyan<br \/>\nActing Deputy Registrar \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0President<\/p>\n<p>___________<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>APPENDIX<\/strong><br \/>\nList of applications raising complaints under Article 3 of the Convention<br \/>\n(inadequate conditions of detention)<\/p>\n<table width=\"100%\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"4%\"><strong>No.<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"10%\"><strong>Application no.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Date of introduction<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"11%\"><strong>Applicant\u2019s name<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Year of birth<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"11%\"><strong>Representative\u2019s name and location<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"14%\"><strong>Facility<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Start and end date<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Duration<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"9%\"><strong>Sq. m per inmate<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"24%\"><strong>Specific grievances<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"13%\"><strong>Amount awarded for pecuniary and non-pecuniary damage and costs and expenses per applicant<br \/>\n(in euros)<a href=\"#_ftn1\" name=\"_ftnref1\">[1]<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"4%\">1.<\/td>\n<td width=\"10%\">33498\/16<\/p>\n<p>04\/07\/2016<\/td>\n<td width=\"11%\"><strong>Eduard SZEKELY<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>1984<\/td>\n<td width=\"11%\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/td>\n<td width=\"14%\">Gherla and Baia Mare Prisons<\/p>\n<p>29\/10\/2015 to<\/p>\n<p>19\/04\/2017<\/p>\n<p>1 year(s) and 5\u00a0month(s) and 22\u00a0day(s)<\/td>\n<td width=\"9%\">1.53-2.37 m\u00b2<\/td>\n<td width=\"24%\">overcrowding (save for 18-20\/11\/2015, 15\u201121\/11\/2016, 16\/12\/2016-19\/04\/2017), bunk beds, infestation of cell with insects\/rodents, lack of fresh air, lack of or inadequate hygienic facilities, lack of or insufficient natural light, lack of or insufficient physical exercise in fresh air, lack of or poor quality of bedding and bed linen, lack of or insufficient quantity of food, poor quality of food, lack of privacy for toilet, lack or inadequate furniture, mouldy or dirty cell, no or restricted access to running water, no or restricted access to shower, no or restricted access to warm water, no or restricted access to toilet<\/td>\n<td width=\"13%\">3,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"4%\">2.<\/td>\n<td width=\"10%\">36671\/16<\/p>\n<p>18\/07\/2016<\/td>\n<td width=\"11%\"><strong>Petric\u0103-Gelu TARARACHE<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>1979<\/td>\n<td width=\"11%\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/td>\n<td width=\"14%\">Jilava Prison<\/p>\n<p>16\/05\/2016 to<\/p>\n<p>17\/08\/2017<\/p>\n<p>1 year(s) and 3\u00a0month(s) and 2 day(s)<\/td>\n<td width=\"9%\">1.45-2.25 m\u00b2<\/td>\n<td width=\"24%\">overcrowding, lack or inadequate furniture, no or restricted access to shower, lack of fresh air, lack of or insufficient natural light, no or restricted access to potable water, lack of or insufficient physical exercise in fresh air, no or restricted access to toilet, inadequate temperature<\/td>\n<td width=\"13%\">3,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"4%\">3.<\/td>\n<td width=\"10%\">42981\/16<\/p>\n<p>16\/08\/2016<\/td>\n<td width=\"11%\"><strong>Gergely-Attila TANK\u00d3<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>1988<\/td>\n<td width=\"11%\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/td>\n<td width=\"14%\">Miercurea Ciuc, Codlea, Bac\u0103u and Vaslui Prisons<\/p>\n<p>15\/01\/2016 to<\/p>\n<p>27\/06\/2017<\/p>\n<p>1 year(s) and 5\u00a0month(s) and 13\u00a0day(s)<\/td>\n<td width=\"9%\">1.37-2.94 m\u00b2<\/td>\n<td width=\"24%\">overcrowding (save for 18-26\/01\/2016, 5\u201126\/02\/2016, 23-24\/03\/2016, 31\/01\/2017-11\/04\/2017, 24-28\/04\/2017 and 4\/05\/2017-27\/06\/2017), bunk beds, lack or inadequate furniture, no or restricted access to toilet, no or restricted access to potable water<\/td>\n<td width=\"13%\">3,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"4%\">4.<\/td>\n<td width=\"10%\">46596\/16<\/p>\n<p>14\/11\/2016<\/td>\n<td width=\"11%\"><strong>Cristian COJOCARU<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>1972<\/td>\n<td width=\"11%\">Elena-Loredana Cojocaru<\/p>\n<p>T\u00e2rgu Neam\u021b<\/td>\n<td width=\"14%\">Ia\u015fi, Tulcea and Vaslui Prisons<\/p>\n<p>17\/04\/2015 to<\/p>\n<p>17\/08\/2017<\/p>\n<p>2 year(s) and 4\u00a0month(s) and 1 day(s)<\/td>\n<td width=\"9%\">1.28-2.86 m\u00b2<\/td>\n<td width=\"24%\">overcrowding, lack of fresh air, lack of or insufficient natural light, inadequate temperature, infestation of cell with insects\/rodents, lack or inadequate furniture, no or restricted access to running water, bunk beds, lack of or insufficient quantity of food, poor quality of food, no or restricted access to warm water, lack of or inadequate hygienic facilities, lack of or insufficient physical exercise in fresh air<\/td>\n<td width=\"13%\">3,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"4%\">5.<\/td>\n<td width=\"10%\">47436\/16<\/p>\n<p>06\/09\/2016<\/td>\n<td width=\"11%\"><strong>Marius VIA\u015eU<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>1978<\/td>\n<td width=\"11%\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/td>\n<td width=\"14%\">Timi\u015foara Prison<\/p>\n<p>28\/01\/2016 to<\/p>\n<p>25\/07\/2017<\/p>\n<p>1 year(s) and 5\u00a0month(s) and 28\u00a0day(s)<\/td>\n<td width=\"9%\">2-2.42 m\u00b2<\/td>\n<td width=\"24%\">overcrowding, lack or inadequate furniture, lack of or inadequate hygienic facilities, lack of or insufficient physical exercise in fresh air, infestation of cell with insects\/rodents<\/td>\n<td width=\"13%\">3,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"4%\">6.<\/td>\n<td width=\"10%\">47629\/16<\/p>\n<p>02\/09\/2016<\/td>\n<td width=\"11%\"><strong>M\u0103d\u0103lin Nicu\u0219or CROITORU<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>1991<\/td>\n<td width=\"11%\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/td>\n<td width=\"14%\">Craiova Prison<\/p>\n<p>15\/12\/2015 to<\/p>\n<p>13\/01\/2017<\/p>\n<p>1 year(s) and 30 day(s)<\/td>\n<td width=\"9%\">1.43-1.79 m\u00b2<\/td>\n<td width=\"24%\">overcrowding, bunk beds, inadequate temperature, infestation of cell with insects\/rodents, lack of fresh air, lack of or insufficient natural light, lack of or insufficient physical exercise in fresh air, lack of or insufficient quantity of food, poor quality of food, lack of or poor quality of bedding and bed linen, lack of privacy for toilet, lack or inadequate furniture, mouldy or dirty cell, no or restricted access to shower, no or restricted access to warm water<\/td>\n<td width=\"13%\">3,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"4%\">7.<\/td>\n<td width=\"10%\">49347\/16<\/p>\n<p>27\/09\/2016<\/td>\n<td width=\"11%\"><strong>Gheorghe B\u0102RBUIA<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>1969<\/td>\n<td width=\"11%\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/td>\n<td width=\"14%\">Coliba\u015fi and T\u00e2rgu-Jiu Prisons, Coliba\u015fi Prison Hospital<\/p>\n<p>02\/06\/2016 to<\/p>\n<p>12\/09\/2017<\/p>\n<p>1 year(s) and 3\u00a0month(s) and 11\u00a0day(s)<\/td>\n<td width=\"9%\">1.81-2.81 m\u00b2<\/td>\n<td width=\"24%\">overcrowding (save for Coliba\u015fi Prison Hospital), bunk beds, inadequate temperature, infestation of cell with insects\/rodents, lack of fresh air, lack of or inadequate hygienic facilities, lack of or insufficient natural light, lack of or insufficient physical exercise in fresh air, lack of or insufficient quantity of food, poor quality of food, lack or inadequate furniture, mouldy or dirty cell, no or restricted access to potable water, no or restricted access to toilet<\/td>\n<td width=\"13%\">3,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"4%\">8.<\/td>\n<td width=\"10%\">49594\/16<\/p>\n<p>08\/11\/2016<\/td>\n<td width=\"11%\"><strong>Cristian-Florian GALIA\u0162ATO<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>1960<\/td>\n<td width=\"11%\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/td>\n<td width=\"14%\">Drobeta Turnu Severin Police, Drobeta Turnu Severin, Craiova, Jilava, Gherla, Aiud, Arad, Drobeta Turnu Severin &#8211; V\u00e2njule\u0163 Prisons<\/p>\n<p>20\/08\/2001 to<\/p>\n<p>21\/12\/2016<\/p>\n<p>15 year(s) and 4\u00a0month(s) and 2 day(s)<\/td>\n<td width=\"9%\">1.19-2.27 m\u00b2<\/td>\n<td width=\"24%\">overcrowding (save for Arad Prison and for 18\/10\/2004-23\/01\/2007, 24\/02\/2008-22\/11\/2008, 30\/10\/2009-20\/08\/2010), bunk beds, inadequate temperature, infestation of cell with insects\/rodents, lack of fresh air, lack of or inadequate hygienic facilities, lack of or insufficient natural light, lack of or insufficient physical exercise in fresh air, lack of or insufficient quantity of food, poor quality of food, lack of or poor quality of bedding and bed linen, lack of privacy for toilet, lack or inadequate furniture, mouldy or dirty cell, no or restricted access to potable water, no or restricted access to running water, no or restricted access to shower, no or restricted access to warm water<\/td>\n<td width=\"13%\">5,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"4%\">9.<\/td>\n<td width=\"10%\">49712\/16<\/p>\n<p>20\/09\/2016<\/td>\n<td width=\"11%\"><strong>Ilie-Liviu CO\u015eIER<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>1977<\/td>\n<td width=\"11%\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/td>\n<td width=\"14%\">Sibiu County Police Station, Aiud and B\u00e2rcea Mare Prisons<\/p>\n<p>23\/11\/2014 to<\/p>\n<p>14\/03\/2017<\/p>\n<p>2 year(s) and 3\u00a0month(s) and 20\u00a0day(s)<\/td>\n<td width=\"9%\">1.52-2.62 m\u00b2<\/td>\n<td width=\"24%\">overcrowding (save for 23\/11\/2014-02\/03\/2015, 16\/06\/2015-19\/11\/2015), bunk beds, inadequate temperature, infestation of cell with insects\/rodents, lack of fresh air, lack of or inadequate hygienic facilities, lack of or insufficient natural light, lack of or insufficient physical exercise in fresh air, lack of or insufficient quantity of food, poor quality of food, lack of or poor quality of bedding and bed linen, lack of privacy for toilet, lack or inadequate furniture, mouldy or dirty cell, no or restricted access to running water, no or restricted access to shower, no or restricted access to toilet, no or restricted access to warm water<\/td>\n<td width=\"13%\">3,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref1\" name=\"_ftn1\">[1]<\/a> Plus any tax that may be chargeable to the applicants.<\/p>\n<div 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inadequate conditions of their detention. FOURTH SECTION CASE OF SZEKELY AND OTHERS v. ROMANIA (Application no. 33498\/16 and 8 others \u2013 see appended list) JUDGMENT STRASBOURG 13 January 2022 This judgment is final but it&hellip;<\/p>\n<p class=\"more-link-p\"><a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/laweuro.com\/?p=17794\">Read more &rarr;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17794","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-available-in-english"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/laweuro.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17794","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/laweuro.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/laweuro.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/laweuro.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/laweuro.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=17794"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/laweuro.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17794\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17795,"href":"https:\/\/laweuro.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17794\/revisions\/17795"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/laweuro.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=17794"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/laweuro.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=17794"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/laweuro.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=17794"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}