FOURTH SECTION
CASE OF KATIĆ AND OTHERS v. BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
(Application no. 50972/16 and 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 Katić 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 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 27 June 2019, pursuant to Rule 77 §§ 2 and 3 of the Rules of Court.
Liv TigerstedtStéphanie Mourou-Vikström
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
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]
50972/16
26/07/2016
Slavko Katić
17/11/1967
Mostar Cantonal Court, 23/09/2010
22/04/2011
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 9 day(s)
1,000
350
50977/16
26/07/2016
Miloš Vuković
24/04/1975
Mostar Cantonal Court, 23/09/2010
08/11/2010
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 5 month(s) and 23 day(s)
1,000
350
50995/16
26/07/2016
Edin Zekić
10/10/1967
Niko Bulajić
04/12/1963
Mostar Cantonal Court, 20/01/2011
13/09/2011
pending
More than 7 year(s) and 7 month(s) and 18 day(s)
1,000
350
51002/16
26/07/2016
(4 applicants)
Vahid Alagić
18/08/1960
Harun Kadić
24/08/1975
Džemal Imamović
22/04/1961
Arif Čomor
30/12/1968
Mostar Cantonal Court, 01/09/2010
10/01/2011
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 3 month(s) and 21 day(s)
1,000
350
51022/16
26/07/2016
Merzuk Zlomušica
17/05/1968
Mostar First Instance Court, 18/10/2010
27/02/2012
pending
More than 7 year(s) and 2 month(s) and 4 day(s)
1,000
350
51027/16
26/07/2016
(4 applicants)
Feđa Trebović
06/08/1971
Enver Hebib
27/08/1970
Elvis Bojić
22/07/1973
Darko Drežnjak
03/03/1967
Mostar Cantonal Court, 02/06/2010
05/10/2010
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 6 month(s) and 26 day(s)
1,000
350
51036/16
26/07/2016
Zdravko Gotovac
10/01/1967
Samir Kuštrić
16/07/1974
Mostar Cantonal Court, 22/09/2010
21/04/2011
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 10 day(s)
1,000
350
51057/16
26/07/2016
(4 applicants)
Hajro Isaković
05/02/1966
Edin Ratkušić
20/02/1967
Zulfo Festić
21/12/1968
Milan Soldo
07/11/1980
Mostar Cantonal Court, 23/01/2013
05/05/2014
pending
More than 4 year(s) and 11 month(s) and 26 day(s)
1,000
350
51068/16
26/07/2016
Miralem Zelić
19/03/1970
Semir Masleša
16/09/1973
Mostar Cantonal Court, 11/11/2010
20/01/2011
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 3 month(s) and 11 day(s)
1,000
350
51103/16
22/07/2016
Sejad Sakić
18/02/1965
Mostar Cantonal Court, 13/05/2010
22/12/2010
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 4 month(s) and 9 day(s)
1,000
350
51111/16
22/07/2016
Dejan Đurić
27/10/1967
Mostar Cantonal Court, 04/03/2010
02/09/2010
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 7 month(s) and 29 day(s)
1,000
350
51126/16
22/07/2016
Adis Rokša
12/01/1972
Emir Nezirić
19/01/1971
Mostar First Instance Court, 11/01/2010
29/10/2010
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 6 month(s) and 2 day(s)
1,000
350
51128/16
22/07/2016
Edhem Garazlić
06/11/1971
Tahir Čolak
23/03/1973
Mostar Cantonal Court, 06/04/2010
23/08/2010
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 8 month(s) and 8 day(s)
1,000
350
51132/16
22/07/2016
(3 applicants)
Marinko Perić
29/10/1971
Damir Čuljak
17/02/1976
Mladen Puljić
02/10/1963
Mostar Cantonal Court, 19/05/2010
22/09/2010
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 7 month(s) and 9 day(s)
1,000
350
51140/16
22/07/2016
(4 applicants)
Esad Boškailo
28/10/1967
Nusret Hajdarović
10/10/1969
Marko Okuka
11/03/1981
Dževad Pehilj
08/10/1972
Mostar Cantonal Court, 16/02/2011
06/12/2011
pending
More than 7 year(s) and 4 month(s) and 25 day(s)
1,000
350
51158/16
22/07/2016
(3 applicants)
Jasmin Ćibo
12/09/1972
Sead Hakalović
30/12/1956
Mirza Rožajac
20/10/1979
Mostar Cantonal Court, 04/11/2010
06/04/2011
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 25 day(s)
1,000
350
51192/16
22/07/2016
Žarko Anić
15/08/1955
Dario Marić
21/12/1968
Mostar Cantonal Court, 12/05/2010
26/08/2010
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 8 month(s) and 5 day(s)
1,000
350
51236/16
22/07/2016
Aida Nanić
03/03/1968
Adisa Šukman
01/05/1976
Mostar Cantonal Court, 16/09/2010
17/02/2011
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 2 month(s) and 14 day(s)
1,000
350
51239/16
22/07/2016
Haris Salčinović
16/10/1978
Mostar Cantonal Court, 12/08/2010
11/11/2010
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 5 month(s) and 20 day(s)
1,000
350
51252/16
22/07/2016
(3 applicants)
Elvira Cokoja
09/10/1969
Azra Bilanović
03/09/1960
Minadir Zlomužica
29/11/1971
Mostar Cantonal Court, 10/03/2011
15/11/2011
pending
More than 7 year(s) and 5 month(s) and 16 day(s)
1,000
350
51270/16
22/07/2016
(3 applicants)
Nail Balić
21/09/1968
Hidaet Vladavić
20/05/1977
Nazif Tinjak
10/03/1968
Mostar Cantonal Court, 02/09/2010
10/01/2011
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 3 month(s) and 21 day(s)
1,000
350
51287/16
27/07/2016
(4 applicants)
Delfa Kuljanin
30/12/1962
Suada Madžak
28/05/1963
Vesna Livaja
01/01/1952
Derviša Hamzić
14/03/1973
Mostar Cantonal Court, 01/04/2010
28/09/2010
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 7 month(s) and 3 day(s)
1,000
350
51291/16
27/07/2016
Edin Kebo
10/06/1971
Mostar Cantonal Court, 16/01/2014
08/09/2014
pending
More than 4 year(s) and 7 month(s) and 23 day(s)
1,000
350
51292/16
27/07/2016
Suad Tojaga
25/05/1970
Mostar First Instance Court, 03/05/2012
06/05/2014
pending
More than 4 year(s) and 11 month(s) and 25 day(s)
1,000
350
51293/16
27/07/2016
Slavko Miholjević
07/01/1962
Mostar Cantonal Court, 07/05/2014
02/07/2014
pending
More than 4 year(s) and 9 month(s) and 29 day(s)
1,000
350
51294/16
27/07/2016
(3 applicants)
Ahmet Memić
18/06/1960
Hajrudin Pozder
21/03/1952
Ivica Paponja
09/02/1951
Mostar Cantonal Court, 11/11/2010
21/02/2011
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 2 month(s) and 10 day(s)
1,000
350
51307/16
27/07/2016
Draženko Pudar
02/12/1981
Vanja Vukičević
18/04/1978
Mostar Cantonal Court, 23/09/2010
16/02/2011
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 2 month(s) and 15 day(s)
1,000
350
51309/16
27/07/2016
Amir Prevljak
15/11/1971
Zaim Mašić
01/01/1964
Mostar Cantonal Court, 29/04/2010
13/09/2010
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 7 month(s) and 18 day(s)
1,000
350
51311/16
27/07/2016
(3 applicants)
Amir Kuko
02/02/1974
Džemal Gaštan
28/03/1962
Šerif Palikuća
01/08/1964
Mostar Cantonal Court, 17/06/2010
25/10/2010
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 6 month(s) and 6 day(s)
1,000
350
51317/16
27/07/2016
Miro Katić
08/07/1968
Čapljina First Instance Court, 02/11/2009
05/09/2012
pending
More than 6 year(s) and 7 month(s) and 26 day(s)
1,000
350
51388/16
27/07/2016
(3 applicants)
Bernard Rajič
11/09/1968
Zdravko Ševo
27/04/1962
Željko Krtalić
16/10/1969
Mostar Cantonal Court, 27/08/2010
10/11/2010
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 5 month(s) and 21 day(s)
1,000
350
51403/16
27/08/2016
(3 applicants)
Salko Marić
18/03/1969
Osman Pirušić
09/10/1969
Mirsad Brajević
22/09/1967
Mostar Cantonal Court, 13/05/2010
28/10/2010
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 6 month(s) and 3 day(s)
1,000
350
51406/16
27/07/2016
Ramiz Kurić
08/01/1967
Jasmin Ovnović
11/10/1969
Mostar Cantonal Court, 14/10/2010
Mostar Cantonal Court, 03/03/2011
07/03/2011
01/07/2011
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 1 month(s) and 24 day(s)
pending
More than 7 year(s) and 10 month(s)
1,000
350
51422/16
22/07/2016
(4 applicants)
Haris Čevra
14/12/1973
Adnan Alikadić
04/06/1955
Ahmet Isić
15/12/1949
Milisav Sakovski
18/04/1951
Mostar Cantonal Court, 14/10/2010
25/03/2011
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 1 month(s) and 6 day(s)
1,000
350
51424/16
27/07/2016
Senad Pala
27/11/1966
Mostar Cantonal Court, 02/09/2010
08/11/2010
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 5 month(s) and 23 day(s)
1,000
350
51431/16
22/07/2016
Elvir Hasanović
16/12/1974
Mustafa Škrelja
21/06/1963
Mostar Cantonal Court, 23/02/2011
19/05/2011
pending
More than 7 year(s) and 11 month(s) and 12 day(s)
1,000
350
51435/16
27/07/2016
Branko Šimunović
12/10/1962
Toni Mršić
17/08/1970
Mostar Cantonal Court, 27/05/2010
27/08/2010
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 8 month(s) and 4 day(s)
1,000
350
51701/16
29/07/2016
(4 applicants)
Ivica Tomić
06/01/1968
Frano Džeba
02/01/1972
Senad Husnić
04/10/1966
Ilija Nikolić
27/08/1973
Mostar Cantonal Court, 18/08/2010
11/01/2011
pending
More than 8 year(s) and 3 month(s) and 20 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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