Published on 21 October 2024
THIRD SECTION
Application no. 29163/19
Ilias KANELLIS
against Greece
lodged on 20 May 2019
communicated on 1 October 2024
SUBJECT MATTER OF THE CASE
The application concerns the refusal of the Hellenic Parliament to lift the immunity of P.K., Member of Parliament. P.K. had lodged a criminal complaint against the applicant for, inter alia, lying under oath, insult and slanderous defamation, after the applicant had testified as a witness in a civil trial against P.K. In October 2013, the applicant in turn lodged a criminal complaint for false accusation and slanderous defamation against P.K., Member of Parliament at the time, also applying for civil-party status claiming the sum of forty-four euros. After P.K.’s criminal complaint against the applicant was rejected by decision no. 4870/20.11.2017 of the Athens Council of Misdemeanour Judges, the Public Prosecutor forwarded the applicant’s criminal complaint to the Hellenic Parliament in order for the latter to decide whether P.K.’s immunity should be lifted pursuant to Article 62 of the Constitution and Articles 43A and 83 of the Parliamentary Regulation. Following a vote on 21 November 2018 the Hellenic Parliament refused to lift P.K.’s parliamentary immunity and the applicant’s criminal complaint was archived.
The applicant complains under Article 6 § 1 of the Convention as regards his right of access to a court.
QUESTION TO THE PARTIES
Has there been a violation of the applicant’s right of access to a court under Article 6 § 1 of the Convention on account of the Hellenic Parliament’s refusal to lift P.K.’s immunity following the applicant’s criminal complaint against him (see mutatis mutandis Bakoyanni v. Greece, no. 31012/19, 20 December 2022; Tsalkitzis v. Greece, no. 11801/04, 16 November 2006 and Syngelidis v. Greece, no. 24895/07, 11 February 2010)?