CASE OF HRACHYA HARUTYUNYAN v. ARMENIA

FIFTH SECTION

CASE OF HRACHYA HARUTYUNYAN v. ARMENIA

(Application no. 15028/16)

JUDGMENT
(Just satisfaction – striking out)

STRASBOURG

9 October 2025

This judgment will become final in the circumstances set out in Article 44 § 2 of the Convention. It may be subject to editorial revision.

In the case of Hrachya Harutyunyan v. Armenia,

The European Court of Human Rights (Fifth Section), sitting as a Chamber composed of:

 Kateřina Šimáčková, President,
 María Elósegui,
 Georgios A. Serghides,
 Gilberto Felici,
 Mykola Gnatovskyy,
 Vahe Grigoryan,
 Sébastien Biancheri, judges,
and Victor Soloveytchik, Section Registrar,

Having deliberated in private on 9 September 2025,

Delivers the following judgment, which was adopted on that date:

PROCEDURE

1.  The case concerns the breach of the applicant’s right to freedom of expression under Article 10 of the Convention in relation to insult and defamation proceedings brought against him after he had reported alleged corrupt activities by his former colleague in private correspondence with the latter’s hierarchy.

2.  In a judgment delivered on 27 August 2024 (“the principal judgment”), the Court held that there had been a violation of Article 10 of the Convention (see Hrachya Harutyunyan v. Armenia, no. 15028/16, § 64, 27 August 2024).

3.  Since the question of the application of Article 41 of the Convention was not ready for decision as regards pecuniary damage, the Court reserved it and invited the Government and the applicant to submit, within six months, their written observations on that issue and, in particular, to notify the Court of any agreement they might reach (ibid., § 67, and point three of the operative provisions).

4.  On 12 and 16 May 2025 the Court received declarations duly signed by both parties, whereby the applicant agreed to have his application struck out of the Court’s list of cases against an undertaking by the Government to pay him 2,492,000 Armenian drams to cover any and all pecuniary damage, plus any taxes that might be applicable to the applicant on that amount. It will be payable within three months from the date of notification of the decision taken by the Court. In the event of failure to pay this sum within the said three-month period, the Government undertook to pay simple interest on it, from the expiry of that period until settlement, at a rate equal to the marginal lending rate of the European Central Bank during the default period plus three percentage points. The payment will constitute the final resolution of the case.

THE LAW

5.  The Court takes note of the friendly settlement reached between the applicant and the Government with respect to the question of pecuniary damage under Article 41 of the Convention. It finds that the agreement is equitable within the meaning of Rule 75 § 4 of the Rules of Court. It is further satisfied that the settlement is based on respect for human rights as defined in the Convention and the Protocols thereto and finds no reasons to justify a continued examination of the application.

6.  In view of the above, it is appropriate to strike the case out of the list in accordance with Article 39 of the Convention.

FOR THESE REASONS, THE COURT, UNANIMOUSLY,

Decides to strike the remainder of the application out of its list of cases.

Done in English, and notified in writing on 9 October 2025, pursuant to Rule 77 §§ 2 and 3 of the Rules of Court.

 Victor Soloveytchik Kateřina Šimáčková
 Registrar President