FOURTH SECTION
CASE OF DUJAK AND OTHERS v. BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
(Application no. 17303/15 and 52 others -
see appended list)
JUDGMENT
STRASBOURG
7 February 2019
This judgment is final but it may be subject to editorial revision.
In the case of Dujak 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 Mr M. Alić, a lawyer practising in Tešanj.
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 TigerstedtGeorges Ravarani
Acting Deputy RegistrarPresident
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
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]
17303/15
02/04/2015
Vinko Dujak
08/08/1972
Zenica First Instance Court, 26/04/2007
24/06/2008
pending
More than 10 year(s) and 5 month(s) and 17 day(s)
1,000
350
17389/15
02/04/2015
Manuela Josipović
16/01/1978
Zenica First Instance Court, 26/04/2007
24/06/2008
pending
More than 10 year(s) and 5 month(s) and 17 day(s)
1,000
350
17399/15
02/04/2015
Bruno Lučić
25/07/1966
Zenica First Instance Court, 26/04/2007
24/06/2008
pending
More than 10 year(s) and 5 month(s) and 17 day(s)
1,000
350
17407/15
02/04/2015
Anamarija Krišto
01/08/1974
Zenica First Instance Court, 26/04/2007
24/06/2008
pending
More than 10 year(s) and 5 month(s) and 17 day(s)
1,000
350
17450/15
02/04/2015
Munever Bajramović
13/02/1953
Zenica First Instance Court, 26/04/2007
24/06/2008
pending
More than 10 year(s) and 5 month(s) and 17 day(s)
1,000
350
17505/15
02/04/2015
Violeta Šunje
04/04/1962
Zenica First Instance Court, 26/04/2007
24/06/2008
pending
More than 10 year(s) and 5 month(s) and 17 day(s)
1,000
350
17512/15
02/04/2015
Enes Pojskić
21/08/1944
Zenica First Instance Court, 26/04/2007
24/06/2008
pending
More than 10 year(s) and 5 month(s) and 17 day(s)
1,000
350
17519/15
02/04/2015
Marija Brdarević
09/07/1951
Zenica First Instance Court, 26/04/2007
26/04/2008
pending
More than 10 year(s) and 7 month(s) and 15 day(s)
1,000
350
17535/15
02/04/2015
Avdija Spahić
03/04/1958
Zenica First Instance Court, 26/04/2007
24/06/2008
pending
More than 10 year(s) and 5 month(s) and 17 day(s)
1,000
350
17549/15
02/04/2015
Senad Kavazović
02/12/1976
Zenica First Instance Court, 26/04/2007
24/06/2008
pending
More than 10 year(s) and 5 month(s) and 17 day(s)
1,000
350
17553/15
02/04/2015
Almir Mustajbašić
29/06/1971
Zenica First Instance Court, 26/04/2007
24/06/2008
pending
More than 10 year(s) and 5 month(s) and 17 day(s)
1,000
350
17560/15
02/04/2015
Hanas Kovač
28/04/1966
Zenica First Instance Court, 26/04/2007
24/06/2008
pending
More than 10 year(s) and 5 month(s) and 17 day(s)
1,000
350
17574/15
02/04/2015
Rusmir Šišić
21/04/1969
Zenica First Instance Court, 26/04/2007
24/06/2008
pending
More than 10 year(s) and 5 month(s) and 17 day(s)
1,000
350
17608/15
02/04/2015
Alma Bijedić
17/04/1971
Zenica First Instance Court, 26/04/2007
24/06/2008
pending
More than 10 year(s) and 5 month(s) and 17 day(s)
1,000
350
17635/15
02/04/2015
Mirsad Džidić
07/11/1965
Zenica First Instance Court, 26/04/2007
24/06/2008
pending
More than 10 year(s) and 5 month(s) and 17 day(s)
1,000
350
17640/15
02/04/2015
Rasim Avdić
12/04/1950
Zenica First Instance Court, 26/04/2007
24/06/2008
pending
More than 10 year(s) and 5 month(s) and 17 day(s)
1,000
350
17675/15
02/04/2015
Goran Telalović
01/10/1965
Zenica First Instance Court, 26/04/2007
24/06/2008
pending
More than 10 year(s) and 5 month(s) and 17 day(s)
1,000
350
17713/15
02/04/2015
Adnan Duranović
15/07/1965
Zenica First Instance Court, 26/04/2007
24/06/2008
pending
More than 10 year(s) and 5 month(s) and 17 day(s)
1,000
350
17726/15
02/04/2015
Rašid Isaković
29/05/1953
Zenica First Instance Court, 26/04/2007
24/06/2008
pending
More than 10 year(s) and 5 month(s) and 17 day(s)
1,000
350
18798/15
13/04/2015
Enisa Bavrk
21/09/1971
Tešanj First Instance Court, 15/05/2009
14/12/2011
pending
More than 6 year(s) and 11 month(s) and 27 day(s)
1,000
350
18800/15
13/04/2015
Sadeta Memić
18/06/1975
Zanica Cantonal Court, 23/03/2009
Tešanj First Instance Court, 13/03/2013
02/03/2010
13/09/2013
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 9 month(s) and 9 day(s)
pending
More than 5 year(s) and 2 month(s) and 28 day(s)
1,000
350
18803/15
13/04/2015
Musto Plančic
18/02/1963
Tešanj First Instance Court, 15/05/2009
Tešanj First Instance Court, 13/03/2013
14/12/2011
23/09/2013
pending
More than 6 year(s) and 11 month(s) and 27 day(s)
pending
More than 5 year(s) and 2 month(s) and 18 day(s)
1,000
350
18804/15
13/04/2015
Ernada Begunić
02/01/1978
Tešanj First Instance Court, 31/03/2008
Tešanj First Instance Court, 13/03/2013
02/03/2010
23/09/2013
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 9 month(s) and 9 day(s)
pending
More than 5 year(s) and 2 month(s) and 18 day(s)
1,000
350
18809/15
13/04/2015
Jasmin Plančić
15/08/1974
Tešanj First Instance Court, 15/05/2009
14/12/2011
pending
More than 6 year(s) and 11 month(s) and 27 day(s)
1,000
350
18814/15
13/04/2015
Mustafa Hasanbašić
31/12/1980
Zenica Cantonal Court, 23/03/2009
02/03/2010
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 9 month(s) and 9 day(s)
1,000
350
18914/15
13/04/2015
Belma Dizdarević
09/10/1982
Tešanj First Instance Court, 13/03/2013
23/09/2013
pending
More than 5 year(s) and 2 month(s) and 18 day(s)
1,000
350
18931/15
13/04/2015
Suljo Srkalović
18/07/1967
Zenica Cantonal Court, 23/03/2009
02/03/2010
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 9 month(s) and 9 day(s)
1,000
350
18940/15
13/04/2015
Halil Delić
17/03/1948
Zenica Cantonal Court, 23/03/2009
02/03/2010
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 9 month(s) and 9 day(s)
1,000
350
18944/15
13/04/2015
Mujo Pobrić
13/05/1959
Zenica Cantonal Court, 23/03/2009
Tešanj First Instance Court, 13/03/2013
02/03/2010
23/09/2013
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 9 month(s) and 9 day(s)
pending
More than 5 year(s) and 2 month(s) and 18 day(s)
1,000
350
18988/15
13/04/2015
Sabina Rošić
21/10/1975
Tešanj First Instance Court, 15/05/2009
Tešanj First Instance Court, 13/03/2013
14/12/2011
23/09/2013
pending
More than 6 year(s) and 11 month(s) and 27 day(s)
pending
More than 5 year(s) and 2 month(s) and 18 day(s)
1,000
350
19098/15
13/04/2015
Arifa Agić
01/05/1943
Zenica Cantonal Court, 23/03/2009
02/03/2010
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 9 month(s) and 9 day(s)
1,000
350
19108/15
13/04/2015
Nafa Spahić
12/09/1965
Tešanj First Instance Court, 15/05/2009
14/12/2011
pending
More than 6 year(s) and 11 month(s) and 27 day(s)
1,000
350
19111/15
13/04/2015
Erna Brka
05/12/1979
Zenica Cantonal Court, 23/03/2009
02/03/2010
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 9 month(s) and 9 day(s)
1,000
350
19119/15
13/04/2015
Smajo Sejdić
05/11/1949
Tešanj First Instance Court, 15/05/2009
14/12/2011
pending
More than 6 year(s) and 11 month(s) and 27 day(s)
1,000
350
19126/15
13/04/2015
Fikret Hafizović
18/06/1946
Tešanj First Instance Court, 15/09/2009
14/12/2011
pending
More than 6 year(s) and 11 month(s) and 27 day(s)
1,000
350
20289/15
13/04/2015
Hafiza Zaimović
10/03/1949
Tešanj First Instance Court, 15/05/2009
14/12/2011
pending
More than 6 year(s) and 11 month(s) and 27 day(s)
1,000
350
20326/15
13/04/2015
Fedžad Begunić
06/02/1972
Zenica Cantonal Court, 23/03/2009
Tešanj First Instance Court, 13/03/2013
02/03/2010
23/09/2013
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 9 month(s) and 9 day(s)
pending
More than 5 year(s) and 2 month(s) and 18 day(s)
1,000
350
20333/15
13/04/2015
Nesmira Plančić
14/04/1982
Tešanj First Instance Court, 13/03/2013
23/09/2013
pending
More than 5 year(s) and 2 month(s) and 18 day(s)
1,000
350
22015/15
13/04/2015
Sakib Plančić
09/01/1965
Zenica Cantonal Court, 23/03/2009
Tešanj First Instance Court, 13/03/2013
02/03/2010
23/09/2013
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 9 month(s) and 9 day(s)
pending
More than 5 year(s) and 2 month(s) and 18 day(s)
1,000
350
29427/15
11/06/2015
Anto Šošić
14/07/1970
Zenica Cantonal Court, 12/08/2008
Zenica First Instance Court, 17/08/2012
27/10/2008
07/07/2014
pending
More than 10 year(s) and 1 month(s) and 14 day(s)
pending
More than 4 year(s) and 5 month(s) and 4 day(s)
1,000
350
29435/15
11/06/2015
Goran Vidović
24/06/1978
Zenica First Instance Court, 17/08/2012
07/07/2014
pending
More than 4 year(s) and 5 month(s) and 4 day(s)
1,000
350
29443/15
11/06/2015
Željko Totić
06/05/1975
Zenica Cantonal Court, 12/08/2008
Zenica First Instance Court, 17/08/2012
27/10/2008
07/07/2014
pending
More than 10 year(s) and 1 month(s) and 14 day(s)
pending
More than 4 year(s) and 5 month(s) and 4 day(s)
1,000
350
29452/15
11/06/2015
Amir Husika
15/09/1974
Zenica First Instance Court, 17/08/2012
07/07/2014
pending
More than 4 year(s) and 5 month(s) and 4 day(s)
1,000
350
34506/15
26/06/2015
Aida Kršić
18/06/1971
Tešanj First Instance Court, 16/09/2008
06/04/2010
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 8 month(s) and 5 day(s)
1,000
350
34508/15
26/06/2015
Arifa Brka
05/01/1967
Tešanj First Instance Court, 14/11/2007
11/03/2010
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 9 month(s)
1,000
350
34510/15
26/06/2015
Nadira Artuković
05/01/1967
Tešanj First Instance Court, 14/11/2007
11/03/2010
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 9 month(s)
1,000
350
34512/15
26/06/2015
Azudin Turudić
27/10/1972
Zenica First Instance Court, 26/04/2007
24/06/2008
pending
More than 10 year(s) and 5 month(s) and 17 day(s)
1,000
350
34514/15
26/06/2015
Muhidin Moralić
28/02/1952
Tešanj First Instance Court, 16/09/2008
06/04/2010
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 8 month(s) and 5 day(s)
1,000
350
34515/15
26/06/2015
Izet Mandžukić
15/10/1958
Tešanj First Instance Court, 16/09/2008
06/04/2010
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 8 month(s) and 5 day(s)
1,000
350
34518/15
26/06/2015
Suad Huskić
16/11/1974
Zenica Cantonal Court, 23/03/2009
02/03/2010
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 9 month(s) and 9 day(s)
1,000
350
34519/15
19/06/2015
Sakib Džinalić
11/07/1953
Tešanj First Instance Court, 30/07/2008
05/04/2010
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 8 month(s) and 6 day(s)
1,000
350
34521/15
19/06/2015
Senaida Zarifović
31/03/1967
Tešanj First Instance Court, 30/07/2008
05/04/2010
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 8 month(s) and 6 day(s)
1,000
350
34522/15
19/06/2015
Dijana Galijašević
17/07/1974
Tešanj First Instance Court, 30/07/2008
05/04/2010
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 8 month(s) and 6 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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