FOURTH SECTION
CASE OF SIMION AND OTHERS v. ROMANIA
(Application no. 45802/16 and 21 others –
see appended list)
JUDGMENT
STRASBOURG
18 January 2024
This judgment is final but it may be subject to editorial revision.
In the case of Simion and Others v. Romania,
The European Court of Human Rights (Fourth Section), sitting as a Committee composed of:
Faris Vehabović, President,
Anja Seibert-Fohr,
Anne Louise Bormann, judges,
and Viktoriya Maradudina, Acting Deputy Section Registrar,
Having deliberated in private on 14 December 2023,
Delivers the following judgment, which was adopted on that date:
PROCEDURE
1. The case originated in applications against Romania 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 Romanian Government (“the Government”) were given notice of the applications.
THE FACTS
3. The list of applicants and the relevant details of the applications are set out in the appended table.
THE LAW
JOINDER OF THE APPLICATIONS4. 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 ARTICLE 3 OF THE CONVENTION5. The applicants complained principally of the inadequate conditions of their detention. They relied on Article 3 of the Convention.
6. In applications nos. 11299/17, 61811/17, 55453/18, 27393/19, 52413/19, 64953/19, 4799/20, 5836/20, 6303/20, 7059/20, 7569/20, 8591/20, 21631/20 and 14499/21, the Government raised a preliminary objection concerning the loss of victim status by the applicants for the periods of detention specified in the appended table because they were afforded adequate redress based on Law no. 169/2017 amending and completing Law no. 254/2013 on the execution of sentences for those specific periods of detention.
7. The Court notes that the domestic remedy introduced in respect of inadequate conditions of detention in Romania and applicable until December 2019 was held to be an effective one in the case of Dîrjan and Ştefan v. Romania ((dec.), nos. 14224/15 and 50977/15, §§ 23‑33, 15 April 2020). This remedy was available to the applicants in the applications mentioned in paragraph 6 above, and they were, indeed, afforded adequate redress for certain periods of detention (for details see the appended table).
8. Therefore, the Court accepts the Government’s objection and finds that these parts of applications nos. 11299/17, 61811/17, 55453/18, 27393/19, 52413/19, 64953/19, 4799/20, 5836/20, 6303/20, 7059/20, 7569/20, 8591/20, 21631/20 and 14499/21 are incompatible ratione personae with the provisions of the Convention and must be declared inadmissible in accordance with Article 35 §§ 3 (a) and 4 of the Convention.
9. In addition, the Government argued that all the applicants had failed to exhaust the available effective remedies for the complaints about the inadequate conditions of their detention, as an action in tort was an effective remedy for grievances similar to those of the applicants, allowing them to have the violation of the Convention acknowledged, either explicitly or in substance, and to receive adequate and sufficient compensation at the domestic level, and invited the Court to declare the applications inadmissible.
10. The Court recalls that in Polgar v. Romania, (no. 39412/19, §§ 94‑96, 20 July 2021), it held that an action in tort based on Articles 1349 and 1357 of the Romanian Civil Code, as interpreted consistently by the national courts, had represented since 13 January 2021 an effective remedy for individuals who considered that they had been subjected to inadequate conditions of detention and who were no longer held in conditions that were allegedly contrary to the Convention (see also Vlad v. Romania, (dec.), no. 122/17, §§ 30‑33, 15 November 2022).
11. However, in the case at hand, all the applicants either ceased to be held in conditions that were allegedly contrary to the Convention before 13 January 2021 or continue to be held in allegedly poor conditions. Therefore, the Court dismisses the Government’s objection as to the non‑exhaustion of domestic remedies and finds that the applicants did not have at their disposal an effective domestic remedy for their grievances considering their situations.
12. Turning to the remaining periods of the applicants’ detention as specified in the appended table, 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).
13. In the leading case of Rezmiveș and Others v. Romania, (nos. 61467/12 and 3 others, 25 April 2017), the Court already found a violation in respect of issues similar to those in the present case.
14. 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 specified in the appended table were inadequate.
15. These complaints are therefore admissible and disclose a breach of Article 3 of the Convention.
REMAINING COMPLAINTS16. In applications nos. 45802/16, 11299/17 and 23522/17, the applicants also raised additional complaints under Article 3 of the Convention related to the conditions of their detention during other periods.
17. 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 CONVENTION18. Regard being had to the documents in its possession and to its case‑law (see, in particular, Rezmiveș and Others, cited above), 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 specified in the appended table admissible and the remaining complaints inadmissible;Holds that there has been a breach of Article 3 of the Convention concerning the inadequate conditions of detention during the periods specified in the appended table;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 18 January 2024, pursuant to Rule 77 §§ 2 and 3 of the Rules of Court.
Viktoriya Maradudina Faris Vehabović
Acting Deputy Registrar President
APPENDIX
List of applications raising complaints under Article 3 of the Convention
(inadequate conditions of detention)
No.
Application no.
Date of
introduction
Applicant’s name
Year of birth
Representative’s
name and location
Facility
Start and end date
Duration
Sq. m per inmate
Specific grievances
Domestic compensation awarded
(in days)
based on total period calculated by national authorities
Amount awarded for pecuniary and non‑pecuniary damage and costs and expenses per applicant
(in euros)[1]
45802/16
22/08/2016
Fane
SIMION
1969
Giurgiu and Jilava Prisons;
Rahova Hospital Prison
06/11/2009 to
23/07/2012
2 year(s) and 8 month(s) and 18 day(s)
2.90 m²
overcrowding (save for 17/08/2009-24/08/2009, 10/11/2009-01/12/2009 and 03/02/2010-15/02/2010), poor quality of potable water, poor quality of food, infestation of cell with insects/rodents, lack of or poor quality of bedding and bed linen
3,000
54061/16
07/09/2016
Venera‑Elena
VINTILĂ
1983
Arad and Târgşor Prisons;
Jilava Hospital Prison
18/02/2014 to
05/07/2016
2 year(s) and 4 month(s) and 18 day(s)
2.27-2.79 m²
overcrowding (save for 08/04/2014-06/01/2015, 22/05/2015-02/06/2015, 11/06/2015-18/06/2015, 18/09/2015-24/09/2015), lack of fresh air, mouldy or dirty cell, lack of or poor quality of bedding and bed linen, lack or inadequate furniture, no or restricted access to warm water
3,000
68854/16
27/12/2016
Horia
PĂTRAŞCU
1967
Poarta Albă, Mărgineni, Gherla and Ploieşti Prisons
25/07/2007 to
23/07/2012
4 year(s) and 11 month(s) and 29 day(s)
Tulcea Prison
21/01/2020 to
21/02/2020
1 month(s) and 1 day(s)
1.72-2.58 m²
2.57 m²
overcrowding (save for 04/12/2007-09/04/2009), infestation of cell with insects/rodents, lack of fresh air, lack of or insufficient natural light, no or restricted access to shower, lack or inadequate furniture, mouldy or dirty cell
5,000
11299/17
28/02/2017
Dumitru
CREŢAN
1973
Jilava, Târgu Jiu and Bârcea Mare Prisons
27/07/2011 to
23/07/2012
11 month(s) and 27 day(s)
1.00-1.66 m²
overcrowding, bunk beds, insufficient number of sleeping places, infestation of cell with insects/rodents, lack of or insufficient natural light, lack of or poor quality of bedding and bed linen
384 days in compensation for a total period of detention spent in inadequate conditions from 24/07/2012 to 15/12/2017
1,000
21633/17
24/04/2017
Gheorghe
REBECA
1976
Aiud and Miercurea Ciuc Prisons
01/01/2020
pending
More than 3 year(s) and 5 month(s) and 6 day(s)
2.34-2.99 m²
overcrowding (save for 01/01/2020-29/08/2020), infestation of cell with insects/rodents, inadequate temperature, lack of or poor quality of bedding and bed linen, no or restricted access to warm water, lack or inadequate furniture, mouldy or dirty cell
3,000
23522/17
14/04/2017
Ştefan
BARCSA
1978
Târgu Mureş Prison
21/05/2020
pending
More than 3 year(s) and 7 month(s)
2.09-2.87 m²
overcrowding (save for 09/09/2020-29/08/2021), bunk beds, lack of fresh air, lack of or insufficient physical exercise in fresh air, inadequate temperature, mouldy or dirty cell, infestation of cell with insects/rodents
3,000
61811/17
18/08/2017
Jozsef
HENDRE
1970
Satu Mare Prison
23/12/2019
pending
More than 3 year(s) and 5 month(s) and 9 day(s)
2.03-2.60 m²
overcrowding, no or restricted access to toilet, infestation of cell with insects/rodents, lack of or poor quality of bedding and bed linen, mouldy or dirty cell
42 days for a total period of detention spent in inadequate conditions from 17/05/2019 to 22/12/2019
3,000
55453/18
04/01/2019
Ştefan
ALEXANDRU
1967
Galați Prison
23/12/2019 to
08/01/2020
17 day(s)
Galați Prison
17/01/2020 to
07/09/2020
7 month(s) and 22 day(s)
2.25 m²
overcrowding (save for 23/12/2019-30/06/2020), poor quality of potable water, poor quality of food, no or restricted access to warm water, lack of or restricted access to leisure or educational activities, lack of or insufficient natural light, lack of fresh air, mouldy or dirty cell
210 days in compensation for a total period of detention spent in inadequate conditions from 26/11/2016 to 22/12/2019
1,000
27393/19
03/07/2019
Anton
ROJA
1965
Baia Mare Prison
23/12/2019 to
08/09/2020
8 month(s) and 17 day(s)
2.23-2.37 m²
overcrowding, infestation of cell with insects/rodents, lack of or poor quality of bedding and bed linen, mouldy or dirty cell, lack of or restricted access to leisure or educational activities, lack of or insufficient natural light
120 days in compensation for a total period of detention spent in inadequate conditions from 16/04/2018 to 22/12/2019
1,000
52413/19
24/03/2020
Raul‑Cosmin
STUPARU
1995
Maria‑Teodora
Pop
Oradea
Satu Mare Prison
23/12/2019 to
20/05/2020
4 month(s) and 28 day(s)
2.03 m²
overcrowding, lack of or insufficient quantity of food, poor quality of food, inadequate temperature, infestation of cell with insects/rodents, lack of or restricted access to leisure or educational activities, mouldy or dirty cell
78 days in compensation for a total period of detention spent in inadequate conditions from 15/01/2019 to 22/12/2019
1,000
64953/19
12/02/2020
Alen‑Daniel
MOISIN
1977
Mărgineni, Miercurea Ciuc, Gherla and Aiud Prisons
23/12/2019
pending
More than 3 year(s) and 9 month(s) and 14 day(s)
-
no or restricted access to shower, inadequate temperature, poor quality of food, infestation of cell with insects/rodents, lack of or insufficient physical exercise in fresh air, lack of or restricted access to leisure or educational activities, bunk beds
216 days in compensation for a total period of detention spent in inadequate conditions from 01/01/2018 to 22/12/2019
3,000
4799/20
25/02/2020
Nicolae
STOICA
1987
Rahova and Slobozia Prisons
23/12/2019 to
11/03/2020
2 month(s) and 18 day(s)
Rahova and Slobozia Prisons
17/03/2020 to
05/10/2020
6 month(s) and 19 day(s)
-
overcrowding (save for 23/12/2019-11/03/2020, 17/03/2020-05/10/2020), poor quality of food, poor quality of potable water, infestation of cell with insects/rodents, mouldy or dirty cell, lack of or insufficient natural light, lack or inadequate furniture, lack of or restricted access to leisure or educational activities
18 days in compensation for a total period of detention spent in inadequate conditions from 05/09/2019 to 22/12/2019
1,000
5836/20
24/12/2019
Crinu‑Ionuţ
COŞCODARU
1993
Daniel
Ţugneanu
Berbeşti
Mărgineni and Mioveni Prisons; Mioveni Hospital Prison
23/12/2019 to
30/06/2020
6 month(s) and 8 day(s)
1.33-2.11 m²
overcrowding (save for 23/12/2019-03/02/2020; 24/02/2020-02/03/2020), bunk beds, insufficient number of sleeping places, lack or inadequate furniture, no or restricted access to warm water, poor quality of food, no or restricted access to shower, infestation of cell with insects/rodents
162 days in compensation for a total period of detention spent in inadequate conditions from 30/05/2017 to 22/12/2019
1,000
6303/20
14/02/2020
Constantin‑Traian
OPREA
1995
Maria
Berhă
Buzău
Focșani Prison
23/12/2019
pending
More than 3 year(s) and 9 month(s) and 14 day(s)
2.1-2.2 m²
overcrowding, lack of or insufficient quantity of food, infestation of cell with insects/rodents, lack of or restricted access to leisure or educational activities, lack of fresh air, lack of or insufficient natural light, lack or inadequate furniture, poor quality of food
84 days in compensation for a total period of detention spent in inadequate conditions from 04/09/2018 to 22/12/2019
3,000
7059/20
06/03/2020
Gheorghe Marin
FIERARU
1980
Găești Prison
23/12/2019 to
02/07/2020
6 month(s) and 10 day(s)
Găești Prison
10/07/2020 to
19/08/2020
1 month(s) and 10 day(s)
2.78 m²
overcrowding (save for 23/12/2019-07/02/2020, 14/04/2020-19/08/2020), mouldy or dirty cell, lack of fresh air, infestation of cell with insects/rodents, no or restricted access to potable water, lack of or insufficient natural light
66 days in compensation for a total period of detention spent in inadequate conditions from 21/01/2019 to 22/12/2019
1,000
7569/20
25/02/2020
Adrian
IVAŞCU
1987
Craiova Prison
23/12/2019 to
13/10/2020
9 month(s) and 21 day(s)
Craiova Prison
29/01/2021
pending
More than 2 year(s) and 8 month(s) and 8 day(s)
2.01-2.06 m²
overcrowding, bunk beds, lack of privacy for toilet, lack or inadequate furniture, poor quality of food, lack of or insufficient quantity of food, infestation of cell with insects/rodents
540 days in compensation for a total period of detention spent in inadequate conditions from 24/07/2012 to 22/12/2019, including the communicated period of 19/12/2019 to 22/12/2019
3,000
7575/20
27/02/2020
Marcel
MIHAI
1960
Mioveni Prison
25/06/2019 to
20/01/2020
6 month(s) and 27 day(s)
Mioveni Prison
19/02/2020 to
06/08/2020
5 month(s) and 19 day(s)
2.59-2.88 m²
overcrowding (save for 16/06/2020-17/06/2020), lack of fresh air, lack of or insufficient natural light, mouldy or dirty cell, poor quality of food
3,000
8591/20
27/01/2020
George Ştefan
CEAUŞU
1984
Găești, Codlea and Ploiești Prisons
23/12/2019 to
25/11/2020
11 month(s) and 3 day(s)
2.1-2.64 m²
overcrowding (save for 23/12/2019-31/01/2020, 13/02/2020-02/06/2020, 25/08/2020-04/09/2020), infestation of cell with insects/rodents, mouldy or dirty cell, poor quality of food, no or restricted access to shower, poor quality of potable water
186 days in compensation for a total period of detention spent in inadequate conditions from 27/02/2017 to 22/12/2019
1,000
9810/20
06/03/2020
Dănuţ
CĂLIN
1984
Craiova Prison
19/12/2019
pending
More than 3 year(s) and 9 month(s) and 18 day(s)
2.01-2.40 m²
overcrowding, bunk beds, inadequate temperature, mouldy or dirty cell, lack or inadequate furniture, poor quality of food, lack of or insufficient quantity of food
3,000
21631/20
11/05/2020
Ioan‑Dorin
VLASIN
1981
Gherla Prison
24/12/2019 to
14/07/2020
6 month(s) and 22 day(s)
2.85 m²
overcrowding (save for 23/12/2019-15/06/2020), lack of or insufficient physical exercise in fresh air, poor quality of food, lack of requisite medical assistance, lack of or restricted access to leisure or educational activities
216 days in compensation for a total period of detention spent in inadequate conditions from 19/11/2016 to 23/12/2019, including the communicated period of 20/12/2019-23/12/2019
1,000
2820/21
05/02/2021
Elvis
TURCA
1984
Mărgineni Prison
18/09/2020 to
29/10/2021
1 year(s) and 1 month(s) and 12 day(s)
Ploieşti Prison
29/07/2022
pending
More than 1 year(s) and 1 month(s) and 25 day(s)
(the applicant continued being detained in another detention facility between 29/10/2021 and 29/07/2022, in the conditions which are not the subject of the present application)
1.54-2.24 m²
overcrowding (save for 18/09/2020-07/10/2020, 04/02/2021-11/02/2021, 16/09/2021-29/10/2021), no or restricted access to warm water, lack of fresh air, mouldy or dirty cell, infestation of cell with insects/rodents, bunk beds, lack or inadequate furniture, inadequate temperature
3,000
14499/21
13/04/2021
Sándor
VASZI
1976
Veronika
Vaszi
Sântimbru
Gherla and Miercurea Ciuc Prisons
23/12/2019
pending
More than 3 year(s) and 10 month(s) and 1 day(s)
2.07-2.82 m²
overcrowding (save for 17/08/2020-23/11/2020, 17/12/2020-31/12/2020, 01/11/2022-13/06/2023), lack of or insufficient natural light, no or restricted access to warm water, infestation of cell with insects/rodents, poor quality of food, mouldy or dirty cell
306 days in compensation for a total period of detention spent in inadequate conditions from 12/06/2015 to 22/12/2019, including the communicated period of 19/12/2019-22/12/2019
3,000
[1] Plus any tax that may be chargeable to the applicants.