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You are here: BAILII >> Databases >> European Court of Human Rights >> BALIC AND OTHERS v. BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA - 44080/16 (Judgment : Article 6 - Right to a fair trial : Fourth Section Committee) [2019] ECHR 501 (27 June 2019)
URL: http://www.bailii.org/eu/cases/ECHR/2019/501.html
Cite as: [2019] ECHR 501, ECLI:CE:ECHR:2019:0627JUD004408016, CE:ECHR:2019:0627JUD004408016

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FOURTH SECTION

 

 

 

 

 

 

CASE OF BALIĆ AND OTHERS v. BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

 

( Application no. 44080/16and 37 others -

see appended list )

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JUDGMENT

 

 

 

 

STRASBOURG

 

27 June 2019

 

 

 

This judgment is final but it may be subject to editorial revision.


In the case of Balić and Others v. Bosnia and Herzegovina ,

The European Court of Human Rights ( Fourth Section ), sitting as a Committee composed of:

Stéphanie Mourou-Vikström , President,
Georges Ravarani ,
Jolien Schukking , judges ,
and Liv Tigerstedt Acting Deputy Section Registrar ,

Having deliberated in private on 6 June 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 Mr S. Zaklan , a lawyer practising in Mostar.

3.     Notice of the application s was given to the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina ("the Government").

THE FACTS

4.     The list of applicant s and the relevant details of the applications are set out in the appended table.

5.     The applicant s 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 applicant s 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. 20514/15and 15 others, §§ 25-31, 14 November 2017, and Kunić and   Others v. Bosnia and Herzegovina, nos. 68955/12and 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 applicant s ' 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. 20514/15and 15 others, §§ 36-43, 14 November 2017, and Kunić and   Others v. Bosnia and Herzegovina, nos. 68955/12and 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 applicant s , 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 27 June 2019 , pursuant to Rule   77   §§   2 and   3 of the Rules of Court.

Liv Tigerstedt Stéphanie Mourou-Vikström

              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

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.    

44080/16

20/07/2016

Izet Balić

05/01/1970

Mostar First Instance Court, 14/06/2012

 

17/01/2014

 

pending

More than 5 year(s) and 3   month(s) and 13 day(s)

1,000

350

  1.    

44091/16

20/07/2016

Hasnija Kisić

30/05/1970

Mostar Cantonal Court, 14/10/2010

 

03/02/2011

 

pending

More than 8 year(s) and 2   month(s) and 27 day(s)

1,000

350

  1.    

44107/16

20/07/2016

Alija Baljić

24/02/1965

Mostar Cantonal Court, 28/02/2011

 

28/04/2011

 

pending

More than 8 year(s) and 2   day(s)

1,000

350

  1.    

44133/16

20/07/2016

Armin Demić

02/12/1970

Ivan Zovko

20/10/1964

Mostar Cantonal Court, 11/08/2010

 

28/10/2010

 

pending

More than 8 year(s) and 6   month(s) and 2 day(s)

1,000

350

  1.    

44199/16

19/07/2016

(4 applicants)

Adis Čomor

06/03/1977

Zuhra Elezović

01/01/1953

Almira Šuta

06/06/1979

Esad Aličić

12/01/1968

Mostar Cantonal Court, 21/10/2010

 

 

Supreme Court of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, 12/07/2011

08/03/2011

 

 

 

05/03/2012

 

pending

More than 8 year(s) and 1   month(s) and 22 day(s)

 

pending

More than 7 year(s) and 1   month(s) and 25 day(s)

1,000

350

  1.    

44201/16

19/07/2016

(4 applicants)

Sedin Budim

30/11/1973

Alija Makan

11/02/1951

Vladimir Boltar

30/12/1967

Nermin Hondo

19/09/1966

 

Mostar Cantonal Court, 30/09/2010

 

18/01/2011

 

pending

More than 8 year(s) and 3   month(s) and 12 day(s)

 

1,000

350

  1.    

44288/16

20/07/2016

(3 applicants)

Semir Balta

24/03/1962

Evelina Hasandedić

29/10/1962

Razija Tanović

20/08/1946

Mostar Cantonal Court, 13/05/2010

 

11/08/2010

 

pending

More than 8 year(s) and 8   month(s) and 19 day(s)

 

1,000

350

  1.    

44290/16

19/07/2016

(4 applicants)

Slađan Goluža

27/10/1966

Ilija Rozić

07/10/1958

Miloš Vuković

22/12/1983

Nikica Šimunović

06/10/1968

Mostar Cantonal Court, 13/01/2010

 

21/04/2010

 

pending

More than 9 year(s) and 9   day(s)

 

1,000

350

  1.    

44335/16

19/07/2016

(3 applicants)

Miralem Čopelj

12/11/1969

Aleksandar Ružičić

30/06/1981

Dževad Maksumić

06/06/1978

Mostar Cantonal Court, 19/05/2010

 

30/08/2010

 

pending

More than 8 year(s) and 8   month(s)

 

1,000

350

  1.  

44338/16

19/07/2016

(4 applicants)

Ivica Arapović

21/01/1957

Salem Mehić

22/07/1953

Mustafa Gakić

02/11/1967

Almir Karkelja

20/05/1974

Mostar Cantonal Court, 12/11/2010

 

08/02/2011

 

pending

More than 8 year(s) and 2   month(s) and 22 day(s)

 

1,000

350

  1.  

44340/16

19/07/2016

(4 applicants)

Emin Bilal

03/01/1971

Semir Tojaga

16/08/1968

Živko Janjić

11/08/1981

Admir Kaplan

22/06/1967

Mostar Cantonal Court, 01/10/2010

 

22/04/2011

 

pending

More than 8 year(s) and 8   day(s)

 

1,000

350

  1.  

44451/16

20/07/2016

Darko Bebek

16/06/1973

Edin Mujić

14/11/1974

Mostar First Instance Court, 17/09/2010

 

06/12/2011

 

pending

More than 7 year(s) and 4   month(s) and 24 day(s)

 

1,000

350

  1.  

44498/16

20/07/2016

Kemal Veledar

23/11/1975

Mostar Cantonal Court, 18/08/2010

 

10/02/2011

 

pending

More than 8 year(s) and 2   month(s) and 20 day(s)

1,000

350

  1.  

44510/16

20/07/2016

(3 applicants)

Asim Maksumić

01/02/1970

Mustafa Šemić

14/05/1965

Osman Tule

17/05/1968

Mostar Cantonal Court, 12/11/2010

 

29/03/2011

 

pending

More than 8 year(s) and 1   month(s) and 1 day(s)

 

1,000

350

  1.  

44559/16

20/07/2016

Belmin Šunje

14/10/1971

Mostar Cantonal Court, 17/06/2010

18/01/2011

 

pending

More than 8 year(s) and 3   month(s) and 12 day(s)

1,000

350

  1.  

44574/16

20/07/2016

Sead Čobić

15/04/1968

Enes Maksumić

11/08/1969

Mostar Cantonal Court, 27/05/2010

 

30/08/2010

 

pending

More than 8 year(s) and 8   month(s)

 

1,000

350

  1.  

44587/16

20/07/2016

Božidar Rozić

25/11/1965

Mostar Cantonal Court, 13/05/2010

 

08/12/2010

 

pending

More than 8 year(s) and 4   month(s) and 22 day(s)

1,000

350

  1.  

45271/16

19/07/2016

(3 applicants)

Senad Elezović

27/02/1964

Ramiz Hasić

25/02/1961

Nermin Salčin

06/01/1975

Mostar Cantonal Court, 02/09/2010

 

24/02/2011

 

pending

More than 8 year(s) and 2   month(s) and 6 day(s)

 

1,000

350

  1.  

45394/16

19/07/2016

(3 applicants)

Osman Bobar

17/07/1959

Semir Bašinac

03/01/1972

Fahrudin Sabitović

10/03/1971

Mostar Cantonal Court, 06/05/2010

 

09/09/2010

 

pending

More than 8 year(s) and 7   month(s) and 21 day(s)

 

1,000

350

  1.  

45455/16

19/07/2016

(4 applicants)

Ferdo Buntić

23/09/1962

Mirsad Mičijević

08/05/1966

Ćamil Šahinagić

07/08/1975

Petar Golemac

10/11/1958

Mostar Cantonal Court, 01/04/2010

 

27/09/2010

 

pending

More than 8 year(s) and 7   month(s) and 3 day(s)

 

1,000

350

  1.  

45661/16

19/07/2016

(4 applicants)

Asim Džafić

10/04/1967

Sulejman Ćorić

25/03/1962

Vaso Kisić

12/10/1968

Gordan Zovko

22/10/1970

 

Mostar Cantonal Court, 27/05/2010

 

24/09/2010

 

pending

More than 8 year(s) and 7   month(s) and 6 day(s)

 

1,000

350

  1.  

46998/16

19/07/2016

(3 applicants)

Omer Stiglić

14/10/1953

Armin Sjekirica

08/05/1988

Zdravko Martinović

21/03/1961

Mostar First Instance Court, 20/09/2010

 

22/02/2011

 

pending

More than 8 year(s) and 2   month(s) and 8 day(s)

 

1,000

350

  1.  

47001/16

19/07/2016

Ismet Đipa

11/10/1969

Mostar First Instance Court, 18/11/2010

 

21/12/2011

 

pending

More than 7 year(s) and 4   month(s) and 9 day(s)

1,000

350

  1.  

47018/16

18/07/2016

Hamid Teletović

01/01/1997

Nusret Maksumić

01/11/1966

Mostar Cantonal Court, 08/09/2010

 

15/12/2010

 

pending

More than 8 year(s) and 4   month(s) and 15 day(s)

 

1,000

350

  1.  

47024/16

18/07/2016

Sanela Krhan

14/09/1969

Mostar First Instance Court, 30/12/2009

 

24/12/2010

 

pending

More than 8 year(s) and 4   month(s) and 6 day(s)

1,000

350

  1.  

47026/16

18/07/2016

Ivanka Prusina

11/02/1963

Mostar First Instance Court, 24/02/2014

 

10/06/2015

 

pending

More than 3 year(s) and 10   month(s) and 20 day(s)

1,000

350

  1.  

47069/16

19/07/2016

Ibrahim Nikšić

06/06/1970

Mostar Cantonal Court, 12/11/2010

 

24/05/2011

 

pending

More than 7 year(s) and 11   month(s) and 6 day(s)

1,000

350

  1.  

47084/16

19/07/2016

(4 applicants)

Pavo Burić

05/09/1961

Adnan Padalović

01/07/1973

Ibro Bubalo

27/10/1971

Anto Miličević

16/08/1955

Mostar Cantonal Court, 22/06/2011

 

09/11/2011

 

pending

More than 7 year(s) and 5   month(s) and 21 day(s)

 

1,000

350

  1.  

47087/16

19/07/2016

Almir Cokoja

13/01/1965

Ismail Kadić

11/05/1973

 

Mostar Cantonal Court, 02/02/2011

 

06/04/2011

 

pending

More than 8 year(s) and 24   day(s)

 

1,000

350

  1.  

47180/16

18/07/2016

(4 applicants)

Kemal Đono

11/02/1961

Omer Hebib

27/07/1959

Senad Grizović

26/09/1972

Alen Omanić

14/01/1977

Mostar Cantonal Court, 11/08/2010

 

20/12/2010

 

pending

More than 8 year(s) and 4   month(s) and 10 day(s)

 

1,000

350

  1.  

47231/16

18/07/2016

Milenko Drinovac

19/04/1972

Fahrudin Gusić

22/11/1967

Mostar Cantonal Court, 12/08/2010

 

11/11/2010

 

pending

More than 8 year(s) and 5   month(s) and 19 day(s)

 

1,000

350

  1.  

47246/16

18/07/2016

Zaim Ćorić

10/04/1971

Mostar Cantonal Court, 26/01/2011

 

29/03/2011

 

pending

More than 8 year(s) and 1   month(s) and 1 day(s)

1,000

350

  1.  

47354/16

18/07/2016

Mate Primorac

28/12/1969

Mostar Cantonal Court, 09/02/2011

 

 

12/07/2011

 

pending

More than 7 year(s) and 9   month(s) and 18 day(s)

1,000

350

  1.  

47357/16

18/07/2016

Safet Puce

01/10/1965

Mostar Cantonal Court, 16/09/2010

 

07/03/2011

 

pending

More than 8 year(s) and 1   month(s) and 23 day(s)

1,000

350

  1.  

47361/16

18/07/2016

Miralem Brajević

16/08/1968

Vido Marić

31/10/1975

 

Mostar Cantonal Court, 12/05/2010

 

26/08/2010

 

pending

More than 8 year(s) and 8   month(s) and 4 day(s)

1,000

350

  1.  

47729/16

18/07/2016

(5 applicants)

Karmela Petković

21/11/1963

Slavka Krtalić

15/10/1956

Irena Zadro

01/09/1965

Branka Vidačak

09/01/1962

Ivka Pravidur

15/10/1956

Mostar First Instance Court, 07/07/2011

 

30/11/2011

 

pending

More than 7 year(s) and 5   month(s)

 

1,000

350

  1.  

47759/16

18/07/2016

(3 applicants)

Miro Boras

25/09/1979

Nermin Kuko

02/04/1972

Zijo Đulić

15/03/1962

Mostar Cantonal Court, 13/05/2010

 

28/09/2010

 

pending

More than 8 year(s) and 7   month(s) and 2 day(s)

 

1,000

350

  1.  

47760/16

18/07/2016

Devleta Bećirspahić

09/12/1981

Mostar Cantonal Court, 06/04/2010

 

23/08/2010

 

pending

More than 8 year(s) and 8   month(s) and 7 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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URL: http://www.bailii.org/eu/cases/ECHR/2019/501.html