FIFTH SECTION
CASE OF SHAYKOV AND OTHERS v. UKRAINE
(Applications nos. 56961/22 and 15 others –
see appended list)
JUDGMENT
STRASBOURG
24 October 2024
This judgment is final but it may be subject to editorial revision.
In the case of Shaykov and Others v. Ukraine,
The European Court of Human Rights (Fifth Section), sitting as a Committee composed of:
Kateřina Šimáčková, President,
Mykola Gnatovskyy,
Artūrs Kučs, judges,
and Viktoriya Maradudina, Acting Deputy Section Registrar,
Having deliberated in private on 3 October 2024,
Delivers the following judgment, which was adopted on that date:
PROCEDURE
1. The case originated in applications against Ukraine 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 Sergiy Mykolayovych Rybiy, a lawyer practising in Dnipro.
3. The Ukrainian Government (“the Government”) were given notice of the applications.
THE FACTS
4. The list of applicants and the relevant details of the applications are set out in the appended table.
THE LAW
JOINDER OF THE APPLICATIONS5. Having regard to the similar subject matter of the applications, the Court finds it appropriate to examine them jointly in a single judgment.
ALLEGED VIOLATION OF ARTICLES 3 AND 13 OF THE CONVENTION6. The applicants complained principally of the inadequate conditions of their detention and that they had no effective remedy in this connection. They relied on Articles 3 and 13 of the Convention.
7. The Court notes that the applicants were kept in detention in poor conditions. The details of the applicants’ detention are indicated in the appended table. The Court refers to the principles established in its case‑law regarding inadequate conditions of detention (see, for instance, Muršić v. Croatia [GC], no. 7334/13, §§ 96‑101, ECHR 2016). It reiterates in particular that a serious lack of space in a prison cell weighs heavily as a factor to be taken into account for the purpose of establishing whether the detention conditions described are “degrading” from the point of view of Article 3 and may disclose a violation, both alone or taken together with other shortcomings (see Muršić, cited above, §§ 122-41, and Ananyev and Others v. Russia, nos. 42525/07 and 60800/08, §§ 149‑59, 10 January 2012).
8. In the leading cases of Melnik v. Ukraine (no. 72286/01, 28 March 2006) and Sukachov v. Ukraine (no. 14057/17, 30 January 2020), the Court already found a violation in respect of issues similar to those in the present case.
9. The Court further observes in the present case that, in reply to a prima facie complaint of inadequate conditions of detention, the Government submitted a series of certificates, issued by the facilities’ officials after they had been given notice of the applications, indicating the cells’ surface area and designed occupancy, and broadly addressing other conditions of detention. No primary evidence showing cell floor plans and the actual number of inmates during the specific periods of the applicants’ detention have been provided (see Ananyev and Others, cited above, § 123, and, for example, Sparysh and Kutsmand v. Ukraine [Committee], nos. 49709/18 and 49870/18, 12 September 2024). Other documents and photographs, related to air, food, water quality control, pest control, temperature and luminosity measurements, bathing facilities, privacy of toilet, laundry services, etc., either have not been provided or pertained to other cells or periods well before or after the applicants’ detention.
10. 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 applicants’ conditions of detention during the periods indicated in the appended table were inadequate.
11. The Court further notes that the applicants did not have at their disposal an effective remedy in respect of these complaints.
12. These complaints are therefore admissible and disclose a breach of Articles 3 and 13 of the Convention.
REMAINING COMPLAINTS13. Some applicants also raised other complaints under Article 3 of the Convention.
14. The Court has examined these complaints and considers that, in the light of all the material in its possession and in so far as the matters complained of are within its competence, these complaints either do not meet the admissibility criteria set out in Articles 34 and 35 of the Convention or do not disclose any appearance of a violation of the rights and freedoms enshrined in the Convention or the Protocols thereto.
It follows that this part of the applications must be rejected in accordance with Article 35 § 4 of the Convention.
APPLICATION OF ARTICLE 41 OF THE CONVENTION15. Regard being had to the documents in its possession and to its case‑law (see, in particular, Sukachov, cited above, §§ 165 and 167), the Court considers it reasonable to award the sums indicated in the appended table.
FOR THESE REASONS, THE COURT, UNANIMOUSLY,
Decides to join the applications;Declares the complaints concerning the inadequate conditions of detention during the periods indicated in the appended table and the lack of any effective remedy in domestic law admissible, and the remainder of the applications inadmissible;Holds that these complaints disclose a breach of Articles 3 and 13 of the Convention concerning the inadequate conditions of detention during the periods indicated in the appended table and the lack of any effective remedy in domestic law;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 24 October 2024, pursuant to Rule 77 §§ 2 and 3 of the Rules of Court.
Viktoriya Maradudina Kateřina Šimáčková
Acting Deputy Registrar President
APPENDIX
List of applications raising complaints under Articles 3 and 13 of the Convention
(inadequate conditions of detention and lack of any effective remedy in domestic law)
No.
Application no.
Date of introduction
Applicant’s name
Year of birth
Facility
Start and end date
Duration
Sq. m per inmate
Specific grievances
Amount awarded for pecuniary and non-pecuniary damage per applicant
(in euros)[1]
56961/22
22/11/2022
Igor Vyacheslavovych SHAYKOV
1975
Zamkova Detention Facility no. 58
13/10/2005
pending
More than
18 year(s) and
10 month(s) and
24 day(s)
3.1 m²
overcrowding, passive smoking, lack of fresh air, inadequate temperature, lack of or poor quality of bedding and bed linen, lack of privacy for toilet, mouldy or dirty cell, no or restricted access to warm water, lack of toiletries, infestation of cell with insects/rodents, lack of or inadequate hygienic facilities, poor quality of food, poor quality of potable water, no or restricted access to shower, no or restricted access to potable water, lack of or insufficient physical exercise in fresh air
7,500
25514/23
04/06/2023
Yuriy Volodymyrovych VORONIN
1974
Zamkova Detention Facility
15/11/2018
pending
More than 5 year(s) and 9 month(s) and 22 day(s)
3.9 m²
overcrowding, lack of fresh air, passive smoking, inadequate temperature, mouldy or dirty cell, lack of or inadequate hygienic facilities, lack of privacy for toilet, lack of or poor quality of bedding and bed linen, poor quality of food, no or restricted access to shower, no or restricted access to potable water, lack of or insufficient physical exercise in fresh air
7,500
26638/23
20/06/2023
Oleg Anatoliyovych PALIYENKO
1977
Zamkova Detention Facility no. 58
11/09/2021
pending
More than 2 year(s) and 11 month(s) and 26 day(s)
3.91 m²
overcrowding, lack of fresh air, passive smoking, inadequate temperature, infestation of cell with insects/rodents, lack of requisite medical assistance, mouldy or dirty cell, lack of or inadequate hygienic facilities, lack of privacy for toilet, lack of or poor quality of bedding and bed linen, lack of or insufficient physical exercise in fresh air, lack of or insufficient natural light, lack of toiletries, poor quality of food, no or restricted access to shower, lack of or insufficient quantity of food, no or restricted access to potable water
6,700
28657/23
04/07/2023
Pavlo Viktorovych BARVINSKYY
1975
Zamkova Detention facility no. 58
12/08/2022
pending
More than 2 year(s) and 25 day(s)
4.1 m²
lack of fresh air, passive smoking, inadequate temperature, infestation of cell with insects/rodents, lack of requisite medical assistance, mouldy or dirty cell, lack of or inadequate hygienic facilities, lack of privacy for toilet, lack of or poor quality of bedding and bed linen, lack of or insufficient physical exercise in fresh air, lack of or insufficient natural light, lack of toiletries, poor quality of food, no or restricted access to shower, lack of or insufficient quantity of food, no or restricted access to potable water
5,000
28664/23
04/07/2023
Yuriy Vasylyovych TERESHENKO
1980
Zamkova Detention facility no. 58
18/09/2005
pending
More than
18 year(s) and
11 month(s) and
19 day(s)
3.8 m²
overcrowding, lack of fresh air, passive smoking, inadequate temperature, infestation of cell with insects/rodents, lack of requisite medical assistance, mouldy or dirty cell, lack of or inadequate hygienic facilities, lack of privacy for toilet, lack of or poor quality of bedding and bed linen, lack of or insufficient physical exercise in fresh air, lack of or insufficient natural light, lack of toiletries, poor quality of food, no or restricted access to shower, lack of or insufficient quantity of food, no or restricted access to potable water
7,500
28671/23
04/07/2023
Oleksandr Mykolayovych PYLYPCHYK
1987
Zamkova Detention facility no. 58
27/12/2014
pending
More than 9 year(s) and 8 month(s) and 10 day(s)
3.8 m²
overcrowding, lack of fresh air, passive smoking, inadequate temperature, infestation of cell with insects/rodents, lack of requisite medical assistance, mouldy or dirty cell, lack of or inadequate hygienic facilities, lack of privacy for toilet, lack of or poor quality of bedding and bed linen, lack of or insufficient physical exercise in fresh air, lack of or insufficient natural light, lack of toiletries, poor quality of food, no or restricted access to shower, lack of or insufficient quantity of food, no or restricted access
to potable water
7,500
28857/23
06/07/2023
Oleksandr Anatoliyovych POLOZYUK
1981
Zamkova Detention Facility no. 58
27/11/2021
pending
More than 2 year(s) and 9 month(s) and 10 day(s)
3.7 m²
overcrowding, inadequate temperature, infestation of cell with insects/rodents, lack of fresh air, lack of or inadequate hygienic facilities, lack of or insufficient natural light, lack of or insufficient physical exercise in fresh air, lack of or insufficient quantity of food, lack of privacy for toilet, lack of requisite medical assistance, lack of toiletries, mouldy or dirty cell, no or restricted access to potable water, no or restricted access to shower, no or restricted access to warm water, passive smoking, poor quality of food, lack of or poor quality of bedding and bed linen
6,400
30197/23
06/07/2023
Vasyl Mykolayovych IVASHCHENKO
1961
Zamkova Detention facility no. 58
08/11/2022
pending
More than 1 year(s) and 9 month(s) and 29 day(s)
3.8 m²
overcrowding, lack of fresh air, passive smoking, inadequate temperature, infestation of cell with insects/rodents, lack of requisite medical assistance, mouldy or dirty cell, lack of or inadequate hygienic facilities, lack of privacy for toilet, lack of or poor quality of bedding and bed linen, lack of or insufficient physical exercise in fresh air, lack of or insufficient natural light, lack of toiletries, poor quality of food, no or restricted access to shower, lack of or insufficient quantity of food, no or restricted access to potable water
4,600
32042/23
06/08/2023
Dmytro Olegovych SHCHEBETYUK
1981
Zamkova Detention Facility no. 58
09/08/2022
pending
More than 2 year(s) and 28 day(s)
3.7 m²
overcrowding, lack of fresh air, passive smoking, inadequate temperature, mouldy or dirty cell, infestation of cell with insects/rodents, lack of or inadequate hygienic facilities, lack of toiletries, lack of privacy for toilet, no or restricted access to warm water, lack of or poor quality of bedding and bed linen, poor quality of food, lack of or insufficient quantity of food, no or restricted access to shower, no or restricted access to potable water, lack of or insufficient physical exercise in fresh air, lack of or insufficient electric light, lack of or insufficient natural light
5,000
32053/23
06/08/2023
Andriy Oleksandrovych YEZERNITSKYY
1986
Zamkova Detention Facility no. 58
12/04/2022
pending
More than 2 year(s) and 4 month(s) and 25 day(s)
3.7 m²
overcrowding, lack of fresh air, passive smoking, inadequate temperature, mouldy or dirty cell, infestation of cell with insects/rodents, lack of or inadequate hygienic facilities, lack of privacy for toilet, no or restricted access to warm water, lack of toiletries, lack of or poor quality of bedding and bed linen, poor quality of food, lack of or insufficient quantity of food, no or restricted access to shower, no or restricted access to potable water, lack of or insufficient physical exercise in fresh air, lack of or insufficient electric light, lack of or insufficient natural light
5,600
32229/23
06/08/2023
Yuriy Markovych BOYTEL
1964
Zamkova Detention facility no. 58
21/09/2022
pending
More than 1 year(s) and 11 month(s) and 16 day(s)
3.8 m²
overcrowding, lack of fresh air, passive smoking, inadequate temperature, infestation of cell with insects/rodents, lack of requisite medical assistance, mouldy or dirty cell, lack of or inadequate hygienic facilities, lack of privacy for toilet, lack of or poor quality of bedding and bed linen, lack of or insufficient physical exercise in fresh air, lack of or insufficient natural light, lack of toiletries, poor quality of food, no or restricted access to shower, lack of or insufficient quantity of food, no or restricted access to potable water
4,900
32231/23
07/08/2023
Mykola Mykolayovych TKACHENKO
1975
Zamkova Detention facility no. 58
16/03/2023 to
12/07/2023
3 month(s) and
27 day(s)
3.8 m²
overcrowding, lack of fresh air, passive smoking, inadequate temperature, infestation of cell with insects/rodents, lack of requisite medical assistance, mouldy or dirty cell, lack of or inadequate hygienic facilities, lack of privacy for toilet, lack of or poor quality of bedding and bed linen, lack of or insufficient physical exercise in fresh air, lack of or insufficient natural light, lack of toiletries, poor quality of food, no or restricted access to shower, lack of or insufficient quantity of food, no or restricted access to potable water
1,300
32234/23
07/08/2023
Sergiy Ivanovych BOGDAN
1972
Zamkova Detention facility no. 58
16/03/2021
pending
More than 3 year(s) and 5 month(s) and 21 day(s)
3.7 m²
overcrowding, lack of fresh air, passive smoking, inadequate temperature, infestation of cell with insects/rodents, lack of requisite medical assistance, mouldy or dirty cell, lack of or inadequate hygienic facilities, lack of privacy for toilet, lack of or poor quality of bedding and bed linen, lack of or insufficient physical exercise in fresh air, lack of or insufficient natural light, lack of toiletries, poor quality of food, no or restricted access to shower, lack of or insufficient quantity of food, no or restricted access to potable water
7,500
34919/23
31/08/2023
Andriy Stanislavovych NETYAGO
1968
Zamkova detention facility no. 58
25/01/2023
pending
More than 1 year(s) and 7 month(s) and 12 day(s)
3.7 m²
overcrowding, lack of fresh air, passive smoking, inadequate temperature, infestation of cell with insects/rodents, lack of requisite medical assistance, mouldy or dirty cell, lack of or inadequate hygienic facilities, lack of privacy for toilet, lack of or poor quality of bedding and bed linen, lack of or insufficient physical exercise in fresh air, lack of or insufficient natural light, lack of toiletries, poor quality of food, no or restricted access to shower, lack of or insufficient quantity of food, no or restricted access to potable water
4,300
34926/23
31/08/2023
Sergiy Stanislavovych GANUSHEVSKYY
1968
Zamkova detention facility no. 58
12/08/2022
pending
More than 2 year(s) and 25 day(s)
3.6 m²
overcrowding, lack of fresh air, passive smoking, inadequate temperature, infestation of cell with insects/rodents, lack of requisite medical assistance, mouldy or dirty cell, lack of or inadequate hygienic facilities, lack of privacy for toilet, lack of or poor quality of bedding and bed linen, lack of or insufficient physical exercise in fresh air, lack of or insufficient natural light, lack of toiletries, poor quality of food, no or restricted access to shower, lack of or insufficient quantity of food, no or restricted access to potable water
5,000
36032/23
13/09/2023
Sergiy Oleksandrovych PANKIV
1980
Zamkova Detention Facility no. 58
17/07/2023
pending
More than 1 year(s) and 24 day(s)
3.3 m²
overcrowding, passive smoking, lack of fresh air, infestation of cell with insects/rodents, inadequate temperature, lack of requisite medical assistance, mouldy or dirty cell, lack of or inadequate hygienic facilities, no or restricted access to warm water, lack of privacy for toilet, lack of toiletries, lack of or poor quality of bedding and bed linen, poor quality of food, lack of or insufficient quantity of food, no or restricted access to shower, lack of or insufficient physical exercise in fresh air, no or restricted access to potable water
3,200
[1] Plus any tax that may be chargeable to the applicants.