EUROPEAN COMMISSION OF HUMAN RIGHTS
FIRST CHAMBER
Application No. 14503/89
Peter MARGULIES
against
AUSTRIA
REPORT OF THE COMMISSION
(adopted on 7 July 1992)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
INTRODUCTION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
PART I: STATEMENT OF THE FACTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
PART II: SOLUTION REACHED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
INTRODUCTION
1. This Report relates to the application introduced under
Article 25 of the European Convention for the Protection of Human
Rights and Fundamental Freedoms by Peter Margulies against Austria on
8 November 1988. It was registered on 5 January 1989 under file
No. 14503/89.
The applicant was represented by Mr. T. Prader, a lawyer
practising in Vienna.
The Government of Austria were represented by their Agent,
Ambassador H. Türk, Head of the International Law Department at the
Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
2. The application relates to the length of criminal proceedings
against the applicant. On 9 December 1991 the Commission declared the
application admissible.
3. The Commission then proceeded to carry out its task under
Article 28 para. 1 of the Convention which provides as follows:
"In the event of the Commission accepting a petition referred to
it:
a. it shall, with a view to ascertaining the facts, undertake
together with the representatives of the parties an
examination of the petition and, if need be, an
investigation, for the effective conduct of which the
States concerned shall furnish all necessary facilities,
after an exchange of views with the Commission;
b. it shall at the same time place itself at the disposal of
the parties concerned with a view to securing a friendly
settlement of the matter on the basis of respect for Human
Rights as defined in this Convention."
4. The Commission found that the parties had reached a friendly
settlement of the case and on 7 July 1992 it adopted this Report which,
in accordance with Article 28 para. 2 of the Convention, is confined
to a brief statement of the facts and of the solution reached.
-------------
(1) This decision is public and may be obtained from the Commission's
Secretariat on request.
The following members were present when the Report was adopted:
MM. J. A. FROWEIN, President of the First Chamber
F. ERMACORA
E. BUSUTTIL
A.S. GÖZÜBÜYÜK
Sir Basil HALL
Mr. C. L. ROZAKIS
Mrs. J. LIDDY
M.P. PELLONPÄÄ
B. MARXER
PART I
STATEMENT OF THE FACTS
5. On 14 March 1985 the applicant was arrested on suspicion of
having damaged and daubed buildings in Vienna by spraying mostly
political slogans, parts of words and signs onto them, and of offences
under Articles 125 and 126 (1) (7) of the Criminal Code
(Strafgesetzbuch) and Section 36 (1) (1) Weapons Act (Waffengesetz).
The applicant was released from detention on 3 April 1985 and convicted
on 28 December 1987 in respect of some of the charges. An appeal by
the prosecution was decided by the Vienna Court of Appeal (Oberlandes-
gericht) on 18 March 1988. The decision was served on the applicant's
lawyer on 3 June 1988.
Before the Commission the applicant alleged violation of
Article 6 para. 1 of the Convention by virtue of the length of the
proceedings.
PART II
SOLUTION REACHED
6. Following the decision on the admissibility of the application,
the Commission placed itself at the disposal of the parties with a view
to securing a friendly settlement in accordance with
Article 28 para. 1 (b) of the Convention and invited the parties to
submit any proposals they wished to make.
7. In accordance with the usual practice, the Secretary, acting on
the Commission's instructions, contacted the parties to explore the
possibilities of reaching a friendly settlement.
8. By letters of 2 July 1992 the applicant's representative and the
Agent of the Government submitted the following identical declarations
on the agreement reached between the applicant and the Government in
July 1992:
[Translation]
"Declaration by the parties with a view to a friendly settlement
In connection with Application No. 14503/89 by Mr. Margulies, the
parties, with reference to Article 28 para. 1 (b) of the European
Convention on Human Rights and to the assistance of the European
Commission of Human Rights, declare as follows:
1. The Government of the Republic of Austria will pay to the
applicant a sum amounting to altogether AS 70,000 as compensation
in respect of any possible claims relating to the present
application. This sum includes AS 50,000 in respect of costs and
expenses incurred before the Commission.
This amount will be paid to the applicant's representative,
Mr. T. Prader in Vienna.
2. The applicant waives any further claims against the Republic
of Austria relating to the present application."
[German] "Erklärungen der Parteien zur gütlichen Regelung
In der Individualbeschwerde Nr. 14503/84 des Herrn Margulies
verständigen sich die Parteien unter Bezugnahme auf Artikel 28
Abs. 1 b der Europäischen Konvention zum Schutze der Menschenrechte und
Grundfreiheiten und unter Mitwirkung der Europäischen Kommission für
Menschenrechte auf die nachstehende gütliche Regelung:
1. Die österreichische Regierung zahlt dem Beschwerdeführer als
Ausgleich für sämtliche etwaigen Ansprüche im Zusammenhang mit
der vorliegenden Individualbeschwerde einen Gesamtbetrag von
AS 70 000. Dieser Betrag umfasst AS 50 000 hinsichtlich der
Gebühren und Auslagen, die im Rahmen des Verfahrens vor der
Kommission entstanden sind.
Dieser Betrag wird an den Verfahrensbevollmächtigten des
Beschwerdeführers Herrn Dr. Prader in Wien überwiesen.
2. Der Beschwerdeführer verzichtet auf die Geltendmachung
allfälliger weiterer Forderungen gegen die Republik Österreich
im Zusammenhang mit dem der Beschwerde zugrundeliegenden
Sachverhalt."
9. At its session on 7 July 1992, the Commission noted that the
parties had reached an agreement regarding the terms of a settlement.
It further considered, having regard to Article 28 para. 1 (b) of the
Convention, that the friendly settlement of the case had been secured
on the basis of respect for Human Rights as defined in the Convention.
10. For these reasons, the Commission adopted this Report.
Secretary to the First Chamber President of the First Chamber
(M. de SALVIA) (J. A. FROWEIN)
Full & Egal Universal Law Academy