AVDIC AND OTHERS v. BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA - 47345/15 (Judgment : Article 6 - Right to a fair trial : Fourth Section Committee) [2019] ECHR 120 (07 February 2019)

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 Liv Tigerstedt , Acting Deputy 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 ARTICLE 6 § 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 their favour. 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. Declares the 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. Liv Tigerstedt 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] 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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) pending More than 9 year(s) and 5 month(s) and 21 day(s) 1,000 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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) pending More than 9 year(s) and 5 month(s) and 21 day(s) 1,000 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 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 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 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 4714/16 30/12/2015 Nusret Jahić 23/10/1961 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 [1] . Plus any tax that may be chargeable to the applicants. [2] . Plus any tax that may be chargeable to the applicants. BAILII: Copyright Policy | Disclaimers | Privacy Policy | Feedback | Donate to BAILII