Published on 16 March 2026
FOURTH SECTION
Application no. 10089/23
Alexey STRELETSKY
against Georgia
lodged on 17 February 2023
communicated on 25 February 2026
SUBJECT MATTER OF THE CASE
The application concerns the freezing of the applicant’s bank accounts and other assets. A judge issued the freezing order on 18 September 2022, following a request by a prosecutor, apparently in relation to a money‑laundering investigation. The applicant subsequently asked the prosecution service to disclose the evidence underlying the request but his request was rejected on the ground that no criminal proceedings had been instituted against the applicant personally and he had, therefore, no procedural standing to receive further information and/or evidence.
The applicant complains under Article 6 § 1 of the Convention and Article 1 of Protocol No. 1 to the Convention, alleging that the interference with his right to peaceful enjoyment of possessions has been unlawful and disproportionate.
QUESTIONS TO THE PARTIES
1. Bearing again in mind that the Court is the master of the characterisation to be given in law to the facts of the case (see Radomilja and Others v. Croatia [GC], nos. 37685/10 and 22768/12, § 114, 20 March 2018) and having regard to the applicants’ submissions before the Court, has there been an interference with the applicant’s peaceful enjoyment of possessions, within the meaning of Article 1 of Protocol No. 1, on account of the freezing of his bank accounts and other assets?
2. If so, was that interference lawful? In particular, was the applicable legislation sufficiently precise regarding the legal grounds and conditions for freezing, and was the freezing order compliant with the latter?
3. Was the interference necessary to control the use of property in accordance with the general interest? Did that interference impose an excessive individual burden on the applicant (see, for general principles, Karahasanoğlu v. Turkey, nos. 21392/08 and 2 others, §§ 142-52; see also Filkin v. Portugal, no. 69729/12, 3 March 2020)?