{"id":18100,"date":"2022-02-24T11:36:22","date_gmt":"2022-02-24T11:36:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/laweuro.com\/?p=18100"},"modified":"2022-02-24T11:37:07","modified_gmt":"2022-02-24T11:37:07","slug":"case-of-lakatos-and-others-v-hungary-european-court-of-human-rights","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/laweuro.com\/?p=18100","title":{"rendered":"CASE OF LAKATOS AND OTHERS v. HUNGARY (European Court of Human Rights) 1561\/21 and 9 others"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The applicants complained of the excessive length of their pre-trial detention. Some applicants also raised other complaints under the provisions of the Convention.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">FIRST SECTION<br \/>\n<strong>CASE OF LAKATOS AND OTHERS v. HUNGARY<\/strong><br \/>\n<em>(Applications nos. 1561\/21 and 9 others \u2013 see appended list)<\/em><br \/>\nJUDGMENT<br \/>\nSTRASBOURG<br \/>\n24 February 2022<\/p>\n<p>This judgment is final but it may be subject to editorial revision.<\/p>\n<p><strong>In the case of Lakatos and Others v. Hungary,<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The European Court of Human Rights (First Section), sitting as a Committee composed of:<\/p>\n<p>Alena Pol\u00e1\u010dkov\u00e1, President,<br \/>\nRaffaele Sabato,<br \/>\nDavor Deren\u010dinovi\u0107, judges,<br \/>\nand Attila Tepl\u00e1n, Acting Deputy Section Registrar,<\/p>\n<p>Having deliberated in private on 3 February 2022,<\/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 Hungary 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 Hungarian 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 excessive length of their pre-trial detention. Some applicants also raised other complaints under the provisions of the Convention.<\/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 5\u00a0\u00a7\u00a03 OF THE CONVENTION<\/p>\n<p>6. The applicants complained principally that their pre-trial detention had been unreasonably long. They relied on Article\u00a05\u00a0\u00a7\u00a03 of the Convention, which reads as follows:<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Article\u00a05\u00a0\u00a7\u00a03<\/p>\n<p>\u201c3. Everyone arrested or detained in accordance with the provisions of paragraph\u00a01\u00a0(c) of this Article shall be &#8230; entitled to trial within a reasonable time or to release pending trial. Release may be conditioned by guarantees to appear for trial.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>7. The Court observes that the general principles regarding the right to trial within a reasonable time or to release pending trial, as guaranteed by Article\u00a05 \u00a7\u00a03 of the Convention, have been stated in a number of its previous judgments (see, among many other authorities, Kud\u0142a v.\u00a0Poland [GC], no.\u00a030210\/96, \u00a7 110, ECHR 2000\u2011XI, and McKay v. the United Kingdom [GC], no. 543\/03, \u00a7\u00a7 41-44, ECHR 2006\u2011X, with further references).<\/p>\n<p>8. In the leading cases of G\u00e1l v. Hungary, no. 62631\/11, 11 March 2014 and Lakatos v. Hungary, no. 21786\/15, 26 June 2018, 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, 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 length of the applicants\u2019 pre-trial detention was excessive.<\/p>\n<p>10. These complaints are therefore admissible and disclose a breach of Article\u00a05\u00a0\u00a7\u00a03 of the Convention.<\/p>\n<p>III. OTHER ALLEGED VIOLATIONS UNDER WELL-ESTABLISHED CASE-LAW<\/p>\n<p>11. Some applicants submitted further complaints under Article 5 \u00a7 4 of the Convention which also raised issues, given the relevant well-established case-law of the Court (see appended table). These complaints are not manifestly ill-founded within the meaning of Article 35 \u00a7 3 (a) of the Convention, nor are they inadmissible on any other ground. Accordingly, they must be declared admissible. Having examined all the material before it, the Court concludes that they also disclose violations of the Convention in the light of its findings in among many authorities, Bandur v. Hungary, no.\u00a050130\/12, \u00a7\u00a7 79 to 85, 5 July 2016.<\/p>\n<p>IV. APPLICATION OF ARTICLE 41 OF THE CONVENTION<\/p>\n<p>12. Article 41 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>13. Regard being had to the documents in its possession and to its case\u2011law (see, in particular, G\u00e1l, cited above), the Court considers it reasonable to award the sums indicated in the appended table.<\/p>\n<p>14. 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.<\/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 applications admissible;<\/p>\n<p>3. Holds that these applications disclose a breach of Article\u00a05\u00a0\u00a7\u00a03 of the Convention concerning the excessive length of pre-trial detention;<\/p>\n<p>4. Holds that there has been a violation of the Convention as regards the other complaints raised under well-established case-law of the Court (see appended table);<\/p>\n<p>5. 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 24 February 2022, pursuant to Rule\u00a077\u00a0\u00a7\u00a7\u00a02 and\u00a03 of the Rules of Court.<\/p>\n<p>Attila Tepl\u00e1n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Alena Pol\u00e1\u010dkov\u00e1<br \/>\nActing Deputy Registrar \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 5 \u00a7 3 of the Convention<br \/>\n(excessive length of pre-trial detention)<\/p>\n<table width=\"879\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"30\"><strong>No.<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"83\"><strong>Application no.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Date of introduction<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"132\"><strong>Applicant\u2019s name<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Year of birth<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"110\"><strong>Representative\u2019s name and location<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"79\"><strong>Period of detention<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"113\"><strong>Length of detention<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"208\"><strong>Other complaints under well-established case-law<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"123\"><strong>Amount awarded for pecuniary and non\u2011pecuniary damage and costs and expenses per applicant<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>(in euros)<a href=\"#_ftn1\" name=\"_ftnref1\">[1]<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"30\">1.<\/td>\n<td width=\"83\">1561\/21<\/p>\n<p>17\/12\/2020<\/td>\n<td width=\"132\"><strong>Gyula LAKATOS<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>1980<\/td>\n<td width=\"110\">Kiss Dominika Szilvia<\/p>\n<p>Budapest<\/td>\n<td width=\"79\">12\/03\/2019<\/p>\n<p>pending<\/td>\n<td width=\"113\">More than 2 year(s) and 10 month(s)<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/td>\n<td width=\"208\">Art. 5 (4) &#8211; excessive length of judicial review of detention &#8211; The applicant\u2019s appeals on detention were decided upon after delays of 3.5 months and 1.5 months.<\/td>\n<td width=\"123\">5,100<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"30\">2.<\/td>\n<td width=\"83\">5761\/21<\/p>\n<p>11\/01\/2021<\/td>\n<td width=\"132\"><strong>Ferenc ARNOLD<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>1971<\/td>\n<td width=\"110\">Kiss Dominika Szilvia<\/p>\n<p>Budapest<\/td>\n<td width=\"79\">09\/05\/2018 to<\/p>\n<p>08\/09\/2020<\/td>\n<td width=\"113\">2 year(s) and 4\u00a0month(s)<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/td>\n<td width=\"208\">Art. 5 (4) &#8211; excessive length of judicial review of detention &#8211; The obligatory 6\u2011month review was carried out with a delay of 12 days. Furthermore, the applicant\u2019s appeals on detention were decided upon with delays of 1 and 1.5 months.<\/td>\n<td width=\"123\">4,100<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"30\">3.<\/td>\n<td width=\"83\">19324\/21<\/p>\n<p>25\/03\/2021<\/td>\n<td width=\"132\"><strong>Attila L\u00c1SZL\u00d3<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>1983<\/td>\n<td width=\"110\">Kiss D\u00e1niel B\u00e1lint<\/p>\n<p>Budapest<\/td>\n<td width=\"79\">01\/04\/2019 to<\/p>\n<p>07\/12\/2020<\/td>\n<td width=\"113\">1 year(s) and 8\u00a0month(s) and 7\u00a0day(s)<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/td>\n<td width=\"208\">Art. 5 (4) &#8211; excessive length of judicial review of detention &#8211; Three appeals of detention were decided on with 2-month delays. The statutory 6-month and 1\u2011year reviews were omitted.<\/td>\n<td width=\"123\">3,200<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"30\">4.<\/td>\n<td width=\"83\">19376\/21<\/p>\n<p>31\/03\/2021<\/td>\n<td width=\"132\"><strong>Ferenc Mikl\u00f3s L\u00c1Z\u00d3K<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>1989<\/td>\n<td width=\"110\">Kiss Dominika Szilvia<\/p>\n<p>Budapest<\/td>\n<td width=\"79\">28\/12\/2016 to<\/p>\n<p>22\/12\/2020<\/td>\n<td width=\"113\">3 year(s) and 11\u00a0month(s) and 25\u00a0day(s)<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/td>\n<td width=\"208\">Art. 5 (4) &#8211; deficiencies in proceedings for review of the lawfulness of detention &#8211; The obligatory reviews of his detention that are due in every six months either took place with a considerable delay or did not take place at all (the two-year review).<\/td>\n<td width=\"123\">6,800<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"30\">5.<\/td>\n<td width=\"83\">19639\/21<\/p>\n<p>24\/03\/2021<\/td>\n<td width=\"132\"><strong>Szabolcs BOD\u00d3<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>1985<\/td>\n<td width=\"110\">Kiss Dominika Szilvia<\/p>\n<p>Budapest<\/td>\n<td width=\"79\">28\/03\/2019 to<\/p>\n<p>11\/11\/2020<\/td>\n<td width=\"113\">1 year(s) and 7\u00a0month(s) and 15\u00a0day(s)<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/td>\n<td width=\"208\">Art. 5 (4) &#8211; excessive length of judicial review of detention &#8211; The applicant\u2019s appeal against the decision maintaining the detention after the indictment was decided on with a delay of two months. The obligatory six-month review was carried out with a delay of one month. The obligatory one-year review was not carried out at all.<\/td>\n<td width=\"123\">3,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"30\">6.<\/td>\n<td width=\"83\">25698\/21<\/p>\n<p>10\/05\/2021<\/td>\n<td width=\"132\"><strong>Dezs\u0151 VARGA<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>1984<\/td>\n<td width=\"110\">Kiss D\u00e1niel B\u00e1lint<\/p>\n<p>Budapest<\/td>\n<td width=\"79\">05\/05\/2018 to<\/p>\n<p>03\/05\/2021<\/td>\n<td width=\"113\">2 year(s) and 11\u00a0month(s) and 29\u00a0day(s)<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/td>\n<td width=\"208\">Art. 5 (4) &#8211; excessive length of judicial review of detention &#8211; The obligatory one\u2011year detention review was carried out with a delay of 13 months. The 1.5-, 2- and 2.5-year reviews were not carried out at all.<\/td>\n<td width=\"123\">5,100<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"30\">7.<\/td>\n<td width=\"83\">25702\/21<\/p>\n<p>06\/05\/2021<\/td>\n<td width=\"132\"><strong>Pierre Francesco VASTA<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>1992<\/td>\n<td width=\"110\">Kiss D\u00e1niel B\u00e1lint<\/p>\n<p>Budapest<\/td>\n<td width=\"79\">19\/07\/2019 to<\/p>\n<p>17\/12\/2020<\/td>\n<td width=\"113\">1 year(s) and 4\u00a0month(s) and 29\u00a0day(s)<\/td>\n<td width=\"208\"><\/td>\n<td width=\"123\">2,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"30\">8.<\/td>\n<td width=\"83\">26914\/21<\/p>\n<p>13\/05\/2021<\/td>\n<td width=\"132\"><strong>Zsolt TOKODI<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>1983<\/td>\n<td width=\"110\">Karsai D\u00e1niel Andr\u00e1s<\/p>\n<p>Budapest<\/td>\n<td width=\"79\">07\/10\/2019 to<\/p>\n<p>10\/05\/2021<\/td>\n<td width=\"113\">1 year(s) and 7\u00a0month(s) and 4\u00a0day(s)<\/td>\n<td width=\"208\"><\/td>\n<td width=\"123\">2,300<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"30\">9.<\/td>\n<td width=\"83\">27717\/21<\/p>\n<p>14\/05\/2021<\/td>\n<td width=\"132\"><strong>Ervis KRUJA<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>1987<\/td>\n<td width=\"110\">Kiss D\u00e1niel B\u00e1lint<\/p>\n<p>Budapest<\/td>\n<td width=\"79\">28\/01\/2019 to<\/p>\n<p>05\/05\/2021<\/td>\n<td width=\"113\">2 year(s) and 3\u00a0month(s) and 8\u00a0day(s)<\/td>\n<td width=\"208\"><\/td>\n<td width=\"123\">3,100<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"30\">10.<\/td>\n<td width=\"83\">34350\/21<\/p>\n<p>23\/06\/2021<\/td>\n<td width=\"132\"><strong>Emil D\u00e1vid MERUCZA<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>1994<\/td>\n<td width=\"110\">Kiss D\u00e1niel B\u00e1lint<\/p>\n<p>Budapest<\/td>\n<td width=\"79\">21\/08\/2019 to<\/p>\n<p>14\/07\/2021<\/td>\n<td width=\"113\">1 year(s) and 10\u00a0month(s) and 24\u00a0day(s)<\/td>\n<td width=\"208\">Art. 5 (4) &#8211; excessive length of judicial review of detention &#8211; Three detention appeals were decided on with delays of 1, 1.5 and 2 months.<\/td>\n<td width=\"123\">3,500<\/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 class=\"social-share-buttons\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/laweuro.com\/?p=18100\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Facebook<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=https:\/\/laweuro.com\/?p=18100&text=CASE+OF+LAKATOS+AND+OTHERS+v.+HUNGARY+%28European+Court+of+Human+Rights%29+1561%2F21+and+9+others\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Twitter<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?url=https:\/\/laweuro.com\/?p=18100&title=CASE+OF+LAKATOS+AND+OTHERS+v.+HUNGARY+%28European+Court+of+Human+Rights%29+1561%2F21+and+9+others\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">LinkedIn<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=https:\/\/laweuro.com\/?p=18100&description=CASE+OF+LAKATOS+AND+OTHERS+v.+HUNGARY+%28European+Court+of+Human+Rights%29+1561%2F21+and+9+others\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Pinterest<\/a><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The applicants complained of the excessive length of their pre-trial detention. Some applicants also raised other complaints under the provisions of the Convention. FIRST SECTION CASE OF LAKATOS AND OTHERS v. HUNGARY (Applications nos. 1561\/21 and 9 others \u2013 see&hellip;<\/p>\n<p class=\"more-link-p\"><a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/laweuro.com\/?p=18100\">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-18100","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\/18100","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=18100"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/laweuro.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18100\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18102,"href":"https:\/\/laweuro.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18100\/revisions\/18102"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/laweuro.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=18100"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/laweuro.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=18100"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/laweuro.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=18100"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}