FOURTH SECTION
CASE OF GOLIĆ AND OTHERS v. BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
(Applications nos. 51441/16 and 40 others -
see appended list)
JUDGMENT
STRASBOURG
16 May 2019
This judgment is final but it may be subject to editorial revision.
In the case of Golić 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 25 April 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 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 16 May 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]
51441/16
22/07/2016
Miralem Golić
28/07/1960
Mostar Cantonal Court, 02/09/2010
24/02/2011
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 25 day(s)
1,000
350
51447/16
22/07/2016
Redžo Novalić
12/04/1961
Mostar Cantonal Court, 12/11/2010
24/05/2011
pending
More than 7 year(s) and 9 month(s) and 25 day(s)
1,000
350
51452/16
27/07/2016
(4 applicants)
Idriz Kupusija
08/09/1965
Dražen DOKO
29/03/1966
Mustafa FAJIĆ
01/05/1967
Anto VUKOJA
21/09/1962
Mostar Cantonal Court, 14/10/2010
07/03/2011
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 14 day(s)
1,000
350
51562/16
29/07/2016
Ivo Kelava
08/04/1982
Mostar First Instance Court, 07/05/2010
07/03/2011
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 14 day(s)
1,000
350
51567/16
29/07/2016
Murat Husić
03/01/1953
Mostar Cantonal Court, 08/11/2012
17/01/2014
pending
More than 5 year(s) and 2 month(s) and 4 day(s)
1,000
350
51571/16
29/07/2016
Džemila Džiho
05/04/1957
Mostar First Instance Court, 16/05/2013
16/01/2014
pending
More than 5 year(s) and 2 month(s) and 5 day(s)
1,000
350
51576/16
29/07/2016
(3 applicants)
Dragan Kolar
09/03/1968
Admir PEKUŠIĆ
03/11/1976
Amel SALČIN
31/03/1971
Mostar Cantonal Court, 13/05/2010
23/08/2010
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 6 month(s) and 26 day(s)
1,000
350
51584/16
29/07/2016
Osman Novalić
07/10/1968
Mostar First Instance Court, 30/03/2011
20/04/2012
pending
More than 6 year(s) and 11 month(s) and 1 day(s)
1,000
350
51588/16
29/07/2016
Miralem Pribinja
20/04/1970
Mostar First Instance Court, 18/12/2009
31/08/2010
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 6 month(s) and 21 day(s)
1,000
350
51591/16
29/07/2016
Senad Čustović
05/08/1959
Mostar Cantonal Court, 29/04/2010
Mostar Cantonal Court, 24/04/2013
09/09/2010
19/08/2014
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 6 month(s) and 12 day(s)
pending
More than 4 year(s) and 7 month(s) and 2 day(s)
1,000
350
51612/16
29/07/2016
(3 applicants)
Ejub Nuhić
03/01/1970
Velibor MARKOVIĆ
30/07/1968
Šećo ČIBO
18/08/1969
Mostar Cantonal Court, 12/01/2012
19/09/2013
pending
More than 5 year(s) and 6 month(s) and 2 day(s)
1,000
350
51622/16
29/07/2016
Omer Obradović
17/02/1977
Mostar Cantonal Court, 09/02/2011
12/07/2011
pending
More than 7 year(s) and 8 month(s) and 9 day(s)
1,000
350
51624/16
29/07/2016
Safet Marić
12/06/1969
Mostar Cantonal Court, 07/07/2010
14/10/2010
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 5 month(s) and 7 day(s)
1,000
350
51629/16
29/07/2016
Nafiz Ćeho
06/01/1961
Mostar Cantonal Court, 07/09/2011
28/10/2011
pending
More than 7 year(s) and 4 month(s) and 21 day(s)
1,000
350
51631/16
29/07/2016
Emir Gačanin
28/09/1965
Mostar Cantonal Court, 29/04/2010
23/08/2010
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 6 month(s) and 26 day(s)
1,000
350
51643/16
29/07/2016
(3 applicants)
Jelenko Marić
28/09/1974
Senad TAŠIĆ
17/10/1969
Ahmet HODŽIĆ
20/01/1968
Mostar Cantonal Court, 16/09/2010
07/03/2011
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 14 day(s)
1,000
350
51709/16
29/07/2016
(3 applicants)
Zahida Omerović
20/08/1966
Ema DŽEVLAN
04/05/1962
Sead MORO
07/11/1961
Mostar Cantonal Court, 07/07/2010
05/11/2010
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 4 month(s) and 16 day(s)
1,000
350
51718/16
21/07/2016
Dragan Petrović
03/10/1955
Pero KRTIĆ
14/03/1964
Mostar Cantonal Court, 16/02/2011
20/05/2011
pending
More than 7 year(s) and 10 month(s) and 1 day(s)
1,000
350
51724/16
29/07/2016
Davor Knezović
08/01/1962
Mostar Cantonal Court, 02/09/2010
15/12/2010
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 3 month(s) and 6 day(s)
1,000
350
51727/16
29/07/2016
Dika Čolaković
05/04/1957
Mostar First Instance Court
Mostar Municipal Court, 08/12/2012
15/08/2013
pending
More than 5 year(s) and 7 month(s) and 6 day(s)
1,000
350
51743/16
29/07/2016
Haris Veledar
12/02/1975
Mostar Cantonal Court, 18/05/2011
21/12/2011
pending
More than 7 year(s) and 3 month(s)
1,000
350
51746/16
29/07/2016
Jasminka Šantić
25/06/1958
Mostar First Instance Court
Mostar Municipal Court, 30/03/2010
02/09/2011
pending
More than 7 year(s) and 6 month(s) and 19 day(s)
1,000
350
51751/16
29/07/2016
Zdravko Šimunović
17/04/1962
Mostar First Instance Court, 29/04/2010
03/02/2011
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 1 month(s) and 18 day(s)
1,000
350
51754/16
29/07/2016
Džemila Dedić
24/12/1965
Zineta JELIN
03/10/1961
Mostar Cantonal Court, 12/05/2010
21/12/2011
pending
More than 7 year(s) and 3 month(s)
1,000
350
51767/16
29/07/2016
(3 applicants)
Šerif Orahovac
31/05/1970
Antoni ČULE
02/03/1960
Mirjana PULJIĆ VLAHIĆ
31/05/1959
Mostar Cantonal Court, 16/09/2010
08/12/2010
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 3 month(s) and 13 day(s)
1,000
350
51774/16
29/07/2016
(4 applicants)
Ernest Rizvanović
02/04/1969
Nermin BEGIĆ
10/07/1977
Smail BALIĆ
17/05/1968
Edin RAMIĆ
04/01/1971
Mostar Cantonal Court, 13/05/2010
27/09/2010
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 5 month(s) and 22 day(s)
1,000
350
51780/16
29/07/2016
Vido Čuljak
12/01/1958
Mostar First Instance Court, 01/02/2011
20/04/2012
pending
More than 6 year(s) and 11 month(s) and 1 day(s)
1,000
350
51783/16
29/07/2016
(3 applicants)
Majda Ramić
13/05/1982
Lejla MUNIKOZA
29/09/1982
Džafo NUHIĆ
28/05/1962
Mostar First Instance Court, 15/03/2011
Mostar Cantonal Court, 22/02/2013
30/09/2011
11/11/2014
pending
More than 7 year(s) and 5 month(s) and 21 day(s)
pending
More than 4 year(s) and 4 month(s) and 10 day(s)
1,000
350
51799/16
29/07/2016
Stana Primorac
03/06/1960
Mostar Cantonal Court, 05/05/2015
10/06/2015
pending
More than 3 year(s) and 9 month(s) and 11 day(s)
1,000
350
51802/16
29/07/2016
Azer Selimić
01/10/1971
Mujo LIZDE
08/08/1954
Mostar Cantonal Court, 20/12/2010
24/05/2011
pending
More than 7 year(s) and 9 month(s) and 25 day(s)
1,000
350
51818/16
29/07/2016
Nenad Sluga
20/05/1957
Mostar Cantonal Court, 16/02/2011
26/04/2011
pending
More than 7 year(s) and 10 month(s) and 23 day(s)
1,000
350
52348/16
29/07/2016
Senad Redžović
19/09/1972
Almir DŽOLOTA
18/08/1974
Mostar Cantonal Court, 15/12/2010
23/03/2011
pending
More than 7 year(s) and 11 month(s) and 26 day(s)
1,000
350
52351/16
29/07/2016
Azer Šuta
10/03/1974
Dževad DŽEMILA
03/01/1966
Mostar Cantonal Court, 20/10/2010
08/03/2011
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 13 day(s)
1,000
350
52353/16
29/07/2016
(4 applicants)
Salko Oruč
08/07/1967
Jasmin KUKAVICA
02/01/1969
Samir ŠARIĆ
21/01/1968
Goran VLAHO
24/07/1972
Mostar Cantonal Court, 11/03/2010
27/09/2010
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 5 month(s) and 22 day(s)
1,000
350
54041/16
05/09/2016
Dušan Pudar
11/02/1978
Mostar Cantonal Court, 27/08/2010
10/11/2010
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 4 month(s) and 11 day(s)
1,000
350
54043/16
05/09/2016
Dika Sabljić
08/11/1953
Mostar Cantonal Court, 22/10/2010
Supreme Court of Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, 16/06/2011
17/12/2010
21/09/2011
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 3 month(s) and 4 day(s)
pending
More than 7 year(s) and 6 month(s)
1,000
350
72970/16
26/11/2016
(4 applicants)
Mustafa Karabeg
20/08/1966
Šaćir ŠKALJIĆ
16/12/1969
Emir NAZDRAJIĆ
01/01/1970
Zijad DEMIĆ
29/06/1976
Mostar Cantonal Court, 18/08/2011
21/11/2011
pending
More than 7 year(s) and 4 month(s)
1,000
350
72981/16
26/11/2016
(4 applicants)
Amir Mehić
28/06/1962
Jasmin MACIĆ
20/05/1975
Marinko PETROVIĆ
10/12/1950
Đemo NUHBEGOVIĆ
24/03/1961
Mostar Cantonal Court, 08/06/2011
Mostar Cantonal Court, 10/12/2014
06/10/2011
24/09/2015
pending
More than 7 year(s) and 5 month(s) and 15 day(s)
pending
More than 3 year(s) and 5 month(s) and 25 day(s)
1,000
350
72986/16
26/11/2016
(3 applicants)
Ferida Sarajlić
23/09/1959
Razija PROHIĆ
20/07/1956
Vesna PETROVIĆ
29/10/1956
Mostar Cantonal Court, 14/11/2012
24/03/2014
pending
More than 4 year(s) and 11 month(s) and 25 day(s)
1,000
350
72988/16
26/11/2016
Noni Rogić
02/06/1959
Mostar Cantonal Court, 04/11/2010
Supreme Court of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina,
07/07/2011
21/01/2011
05/03/2012
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 2 month(s)
pending
More than 7 year(s) and 16 day(s)
1,000
350
79299/16
08/12/2016
Husein Ćulum
30/01/1954
Mostar Cantonal Court, 13/10/2010
18/01/2011
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 2 month(s) and 3 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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