SECOND SECTION
DECISION
Application no. 1958/21
Natasha GORANSKA and Sara GORANSKA
against North Macedonia
(see appended table)
The European Court of Human Rights (Second Section), sitting on 26 March 2026 as a Committee composed of:
Stéphane Pisani, President,
Juha Lavapuro,
Hugh Mercer, judges,
and Viktoriya Maradudina, Acting Deputy Section Registrar,
Having regard to the above application against the Republic of North Macedonia lodged with the Court under Article 34 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (“the Convention”) on 18 December 2020,
Having regard to the declaration submitted by the respondent Government requesting the Court to strike the application out of the list of cases, and the applicants’ reply to this declaration,
Having deliberated, decides as follows:
FACTS AND PROCEDUREThe list of applicants is set out in the appended table.
The applicants were represented by Mr A. Godjo, a lawyer practising in Ohrid.
The application concerns the alleged lack of access to a court, due to a pre-condition that, before filing a compensation claim against the respondent State on the grounds of judicial misconduct, an individual responsibility of a judge must be established.
The applicants’ complaints under Article 6 of the Convention concerning the right of access to a court were communicated to the Government of North Macedonia (“the Government”).
The Government accepted the friendly-settlement proposal made by the Registry. The applicants did not reply to the corresponding letter of the Registry. Subsequently, the Government informed the Court that they proposed to make a unilateral declaration with a view to resolving the issue raised by these complaints. They further requested the Court to strike out the application in accordance with Article 37 § 1 (c) of the Convention.
The Government acknowledged that there had been a violation of the applicants’ rights guaranteed by Article 6 of the Convention and offered to pay the applicants the amounts detailed in the appended table. The amounts would be converted into the currency of the respondent State at the rate applicable on the date of payment, and would be payable within three months from the date of notification of the Court’s decision.
The payment will constitute the final resolution of the case.
The applicants informed the Court that they agreed to the terms of the declaration.
THE LAWThe Court finds that, following the applicants’ express agreement to the terms of the declaration made by the Government, the case should be treated as a friendly settlement between the parties (compare Bilalova and Others v. Poland, no. 23685/14, §§ 36-41, 26 March 2020).
It therefore takes note of the friendly settlement reached between the parties. It is 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 the continued examination of the application.
In view of the above, it is appropriate to strike the case out of the list.
For these reasons, the Court, unanimously,
Decides to strike the application out of its list of cases in accordance with Article 39 of the Convention.
Done in English and notified in writing on 16 April 2026.
Viktoriya Maradudina Stéphane Pisani
Acting Deputy Registrar President
APPENDIX
Application raising complaints under Article 6 of the Convention
(access to court)
Application no.
Date of introduction
Applicant’s name
Year of birth
Date of receipt of Government’s declaration
Date of receipt of applicants’ acceptance
Amount awarded for non-pecuniary damage
per applicant
(in euros)[1]
Amount awarded for costs and expenses per application
(in euros)[2]
1958/21
18/12/2020
Natasha GORANSKA
1972
Sara GORANSKA
1997
16/01/2026
13/02/2026
3,240
765
[1] Plus any tax that may be chargeable to the applicants.
[2] Plus any tax that may be chargeable to the applicants.