{"id":22082,"date":"2024-01-18T10:43:31","date_gmt":"2024-01-18T10:43:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/laweuro.com\/?p=22082"},"modified":"2024-01-18T10:43:31","modified_gmt":"2024-01-18T10:43:31","slug":"case-of-uguryan-and-others-v-russia-the-applicants-complained-that-they-had-been-unfairly-convicted-of-drug-offences-following-entrapment-by-state-agents","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/laweuro.com\/?p=22082","title":{"rendered":"CASE OF UGURYAN AND OTHERS v. RUSSIA – The applicants complained that they had been unfairly convicted of drug offences following entrapment by State agents"},"content":{"rendered":"

European Court of Human Rights
\nFIRST SECTION
\nCASE OF UGURYAN AND OTHERS v. RUSSIA<\/strong>
\n(Applications nos. 40018\/16 and 9 others \u2013 see appended list)
\nJUDGMENT
\nSTRASBOURG
\n18 January 2024<\/p>\n

This judgment is final but it may be subject to editorial revision.<\/p>\n

In the case of Uguryan and Others v. Russia,<\/strong><\/p>\n

The European Court of Human Rights (First Section), sitting as a Committee composed of:
\nP\u00e9ter Paczolay, President,
\nGilberto Felici,
\nRaffaele Sabato, judges,
\nand Viktoriya Maradudina, Acting Deputy Section Registrar,<\/p>\n

Having deliberated in private on 14 December 2023,<\/p>\n

Delivers the following judgment, which was adopted on that date:<\/p>\n

PROCEDURE<\/strong><\/p>\n

1. The case originated in ten applications against Russia 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

2. The Russian Government (\u201cthe\u00a0Government\u201d) were given notice of the applications.<\/p>\n

THE FACTS<\/strong><\/p>\n

3. The list of applicants and the relevant details of the applications are set out in the appended table.<\/p>\n

4. The applicants complained that they had been unfairly convicted of drug offences following entrapment by State agents. Some applicants also raised other complaints under the provisions of the Convention.<\/p>\n

THE LAW<\/strong><\/p>\n

I. JOINDER OF THE APPLICATIONS<\/strong><\/p>\n

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

II. Jurisdiction<\/strong><\/p>\n

6. The Court observes that the facts giving rise to the alleged violations of the Convention occurred prior to 16 September 2022, the date on which the Russian Federation ceased to be a party to the Convention. The Court therefore decides that it has jurisdiction to examine the present applications (see Fedotova and Others v. Russia [GC], nos. 40792\/10 and 2 others, \u00a7\u00a7\u00a068\u201173, 17 January 2023).<\/p>\n

III. ALLEGED VIOLATION OF ARTICLE\u00a06 \u00a7 1 OF THE CONVENTION<\/strong><\/p>\n

7. The applicants complained principally that they had been unfairly convicted of drug offences which they had been incited by State agents to commit and that their plea of entrapment had not been properly examined in the domestic proceedings. They relied on Article 6 \u00a7 1 of the Convention.<\/p>\n

8. The Court reiterates that absence in the national legal system of a clear and foreseeable procedure for authorising test purchases of drugs remains a structural problem which exposes applicants to an arbitrary action by the State agents and prevents the domestic courts from conducting an effective judicial review of their entrapment pleas (see\u00a0Veselov and\u00a0Others v.\u00a0Russia, nos.\u00a023200\/10 and\u00a02\u00a0others, 2\u00a0October 2012 and Kuzmina and Others v.\u00a0Russia, nos. 66152\/14 and 8 others, 20 April 2021).<\/p>\n

9. The Court has consistently found a violation of Article 6 \u00a7 1 of the Convention on account of the deficient existing procedure for authorisation and administration of test purchases of drugs in the respondent State, an issue similar to that in the present case (see Veselov and Others, cited above, \u00a7\u00a7\u00a0126\u201128; Lagutin and Others v. Russia, nos. 6228\/09 and 4 others, \u00a7\u00a7\u00a0124\u201125, 24 April 2014; Lebedev and Others v. Russia, nos. 2500\/07 and\u00a04\u00a0others, \u00a7\u00a7 12\u201116, 30 April 2015; and Yeremtsov and Others v. Russia, nos. 20696\/06 and 4 others, \u00a7\u00a7 17\u201121, 27 November 2014).<\/p>\n

10. 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 as to 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 criminal proceedings against the applicants were incompatible with a notion of a fair trial.<\/p>\n

11. These complaints are therefore admissible and disclose a breach of Article 6 \u00a7 1 of the Convention.<\/p>\n

IV. Remaning complaints<\/strong><\/p>\n

12. Some applicants submitted other complaints under the Convention. In view of the Court\u2019s findings above, it considers that there is no need to examine separately the remaining complaints raised by the applicants.<\/p>\n

V. APPLICATION OF ARTICLE\u00a041 OF THE CONVENTION<\/strong><\/p>\n

13. Regard being had to the documents in its possession and to its case law (see, in particular, Kumitskiy and Others v. Russia, nos. 66215\/12 and\u00a04\u00a0others, \u00a7 17, 10 July 2018), the Court considers that the finding of a violation constitutes sufficient just satisfaction in the present case.<\/p>\n

FOR THESE REASONS, THE COURT, UNANIMOUSLY,<\/strong><\/p>\n

1. Decides to join the applications;<\/p>\n

2. Holds that it has jurisdiction to deal with these applications as they relate to facts that took place before 16\u00a0September 2022;<\/p>\n

3. Declares the complaints under Article 6 \u00a7 1 of the Convention concerning unfair conviction for an offence committed as a result of entrapment by State agents admissible and finds that it is not necessary to examine separately the remaining complaints raised by the applicants;<\/p>\n

4. Holds that these applications disclose a breach of Article\u00a06 \u00a7 1 of the Convention concerning unfair conviction for an offence committed as a result of entrapment by State agents;<\/p>\n

5. Holds that the finding of a violation constitutes in itself sufficient just satisfaction.<\/p>\n

Done in English, and notified in writing on 18 January 2024, pursuant to Rule\u00a077\u00a0\u00a7\u00a7\u00a02 and\u00a03 of the Rules of Court.<\/p>\n

Viktoriya Maradudina\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 P\u00e9ter Paczolay
\nActing Deputy Registrar\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 President<\/p>\n

____________<\/p>\n

APPENDIX<\/strong>
\nList of applications raising complaints under Article 6 \u00a7 1 of the Convention
\n(unfair conviction for an offence committed as a result of entrapment by State agents)<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
No.<\/strong><\/td>\nApplication no.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Date of introduction<\/strong><\/td>\n

Applicant\u2019s name<\/strong><\/p>\n

Year of birth<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\n

Representative\u2019s name and location<\/strong><\/td>\nDate of test purchase\/<\/strong><\/p>\n

“operational experiment”<\/strong><\/p>\n

Type of offence<\/strong><\/td>\n

Specific grievances<\/strong><\/td>\nFinal domestic judgment (appeal\/cassation court, date)<\/strong><\/td>\nCase-law<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
1.<\/td>\n40018\/16<\/p>\n

29\/06\/2016<\/td>\n

Margar Norikovich UGURYAN<\/strong><\/p>\n

1977<\/td>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/td>\n

25\/11\/2014<\/p>\n

marijuana<\/td>\n

lack of incriminating information<\/td>\nRostov Regional Court, 10\/05\/2016<\/td>\nKuzmina and Others v. Russia<\/em>, nos.\u00a066152\/14 and 8 others, 20\u00a0April 2021, drug-related crime:<\/p>\n

Yeremtsov and Others v.\u00a0Russia<\/em>, nos. 20696\/06, 22504\/06, 41167\/06, 6193\/07 and 18589\/07, 27 November 2014<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

2.<\/td>\n57467\/19<\/p>\n

31\/10\/2019<\/td>\n

Aminat Magomedovna ABDURAKHMANOVA<\/strong><\/p>\n

1973<\/td>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/td>\n

11\/09\/2018<\/p>\n

bribe-related offence<\/td>\n

pressure to proceed with illegal activity<\/td>\nAstrakhan Regional Court, 30\/05\/2019<\/td>\nKuzmina and Others v. Russia,<\/em> nos.\u00a066152\/14 and 8 others, 20\u00a0April 2021<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3.<\/td>\n12187\/21<\/p>\n

25\/02\/2021<\/td>\n

Yunyuye SHEN<\/strong><\/p>\n

1957<\/td>\n

Kulapov Vitaliy Viktorovich<\/p>\n

Moscow<\/td>\n

31\/12\/2017<\/p>\n

bribe-related offence<\/td>\n

pressure to proceed with illegal activity<\/td>\nSupreme Court of Russia, 29\/08\/2022<\/td>\nKuzmina and Others v. Russia,<\/em> nos.\u00a066152\/14 and 8 others, 20\u00a0April 2021<\/p>\n

Ivanov and Others v. Russia, <\/em>nos.62082\/10 and 6 others, 19\u00a0July 2022.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

4.<\/td>\n30227\/21<\/p>\n

21\/10\/2021<\/td>\n

Sergey Valeryevich BOKOV<\/strong><\/p>\n

1975<\/td>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/td>\n

04\/03\/2016<\/p>\n

ephedrine<\/td>\n

repeated calls, the applicant was not known to the police as a drug dealer before the information given by the drug user, who then acted as a buyer, lack of incriminating information, no evidence that the applicant profited in any respect from the drug sale<\/td>\nSupreme Court of Russia, 27\/12\/2021<\/td>\nKuzmina and Others v. Russia,<\/em> nos.\u00a066152\/14 and 8 others, 20\u00a0April 2021<\/p>\n

Yeremtsov and Others v.\u00a0Russia<\/em>, nos. 20696\/06, 22504\/06, 41167\/06, 6193\/07 and 18589\/07, 27 November 2014<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

5.<\/td>\n35368\/21<\/p>\n

24\/06\/2021<\/td>\n

Maksim Yuryevich NOROK<\/strong><\/p>\n

1979<\/td>\n

Boyarko Vladimir Nikolayevich<\/p>\n

Krasnodar<\/td>\n

07\/07\/2017<\/p>\n

marijuana<\/td>\n

repeated calls, fellow drug user, pressure to sell<\/td>\nSupreme Court of Russia, 25\/03\/2021<\/td>\nKuzmina and Others v. Russia,<\/em> nos. 66152\/14 and 8 others, 20\u00a0April 2021, drug-related crime:<\/p>\n

Yeremtsov and Others v. Russia,<\/em> nos. 20696\/06, 22504\/06, 41167\/06, 6193\/07 and 18589\/07, 27 November 2014<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

6.<\/td>\n61107\/21<\/p>\n

09\/12\/2021<\/td>\n

Vadim Albertovich DENIYEV<\/strong><\/p>\n

1959<\/td>\n

Golubenko Andrey Yevgenyevich<\/p>\n

Nea Skiony<\/td>\n

22\/11\/2018<\/p>\n

bribe-related crime<\/td>\n

lack of incriminating information<\/td>\nSupreme Court of Russia, 10\/08\/2021<\/td>\nKuzmina and Others v. Russia,<\/em> nos.\u00a066152\/14 and 8 others, 20\u00a0April 2021,<\/p>\n

Ivanov and Others v.\u00a0Russia<\/em>, nos. 62082\/10 and 6 others, 19 July 2022<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

7.<\/td>\n1497\/22<\/p>\n

02\/12\/2021<\/td>\n

Maksim Skayper Ogly ALIGULIYEV<\/strong><\/p>\n

1980<\/td>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/td>\n

16\/11\/2017<\/p>\n

N-metilefedron<\/td>\n

fellow drug user, lack of incriminating information, pressure to sell, repeated calls<\/td>\nSupreme Court of Russia, 02\/07\/2021<\/td>\nKuzmina and Others v. Russia,<\/em> nos.\u00a066152\/14 and 8 others, 20 April 2021,<\/p>\n

Yeremtsov and Others v.\u00a0Russia,<\/em> nos. 20696\/06, 22504\/06, 41167\/06, 6193\/07 and 18589\/07, 27 November 2014<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

8.<\/td>\n2812\/22<\/p>\n

24\/11\/2021<\/td>\n

Andrey Igorevich DEMIN<\/strong><\/p>\n

1981<\/td>\n

Korchagin Arseniy Sergeyevich<\/p>\n

Yaroslavl<\/td>\n

06\/12\/2018<\/p>\n

heroin<\/td>\n

fellow drug user, lack of incriminating information, pressure to sell<\/td>\nSupreme Court of Russia, 26\/05\/2021<\/td>\nKuzmina and Others v. Russia,<\/em> nos.\u00a066152\/14 and 8 others, 20\u00a0April 2021,<\/p>\n

Yeremtsov and Others v.\u00a0Russia,<\/em> nos. 20696\/06, 22504\/06, 41167\/06, 6193\/07 and 18589\/07, 27 November 2014<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

9.<\/td>\n10091\/22<\/p>\n

10\/02\/2022<\/td>\n

Maksim Aleksandrovich KONSTANTINOV<\/strong><\/p>\n

1983<\/td>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/td>\n

05\/02\/2019<\/p>\n

N-methylephedrine<\/td>\n

fellow drug user, anonymous\/unverified tip<\/td>\nSupreme Court of Russia,<\/p>\n

22\/09\/2021<\/td>\n

Kuzmina and Others v. Russia,<\/em> nos.\u00a066152\/14 and 8 others, 20\u00a0April 2021,<\/p>\n

Yeremtsov and Others v.\u00a0Russia,<\/em> nos. 20696\/06, 22504\/06, 41167\/06, 6193\/07 and 18589\/07, 27 November 2014<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

10.<\/td>\n14928\/22<\/p>\n

15\/02\/2022<\/td>\n

Ruslan Abdulkhakimovich AMANZATOV<\/strong><\/p>\n

1983<\/td>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/td>\n

05\/05\/2019<\/p>\n

heroin<\/td>\n

anonymous\/unverified tip, lack of incriminating information<\/td>\nSupreme Court of Russia, 14\/09\/2021<\/td>\nKuzmina and Others v. Russia,<\/em> nos.\u00a066152\/14 and 8 others, 20\u00a0April 2021,<\/p>\n

Yeremtsov and Others v.\u00a0Russia<\/em>, nos. 20696\/06, 22504\/06, 41167\/06, 6193\/07 and 18589\/07, 27 November 2014<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n