Overview of Rule 9 Submissions in view of the Committee of Ministers' Deputies Human Rights Meeting in September 2023

From 19th -21st September 2023, the Committee of Ministers will meet for their quarterly Human Rights Meeting. During this meeting, the Committee of Ministers will examine 44 leading judgments of the European Court of Human Rights that are pending implementation.

EIN members and partners, other civil society actors, lawyers and applicants have made the 43 Rule 9 submissions for 27 cases under consideration. The list below sets out an overview of these submissions related to cases on the current agenda.

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Overview of Submissions

Strazimiri v. Albania

Violation: Poor conditions of detention and inadequate medical treatment of a mentally ill person subject to a court-ordered compulsory medical treatment; unlawful detention in an inadequate (penitentiary) institution without proper psychiatric treatment; failure to examine speedily the lawfulness of the applicant's detention; absence of right to compensation.

Last Examination: September 2022 - CM/Del/Dec(2022)1443/H46-1

Latest Submissions:

• 1475th meeting (September 2023) (DH) - Rule 9.2 - Communication from an NGO (ASSEDEL ((Albanian Helsinki Committee) (28/07/2023) in the cases of Prizreni and Strazimiri v. Albania (Applications No. 29309/16, 34602/16)

Chiragov and Others v. Armenia

Violation: Impossibility for persons displaced during the active military phase (1992-1994) of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to gain access to their homes and properties in the region; lack of effective remedies.

Last Examination: December 2022 - CM/Del/Dec(2022)1451/H46-2

Latest Submissions:

• 1475th meeting (September 2023) (DH) - Rule 9.2 - Communication from an NGO (Democratic Progress Institute) (02/08/2023) in the case of CHIRAGOV AND OTHERS v. Armenia (Application No. 13216/05)

Mushegh Saghatelyan v. Armenia

Violation: Ill-treatment by the police and absence of any official investigation; unlawful arrest and detention; disproportionate and unnecessary dispersal of protests.

Last Examination: 30 November - 2 December 2021-  CM/Del/Dec(2021)1419/H46-1

Latest Submissions:

• 1475th meeting (September 2023) (DH) - Rules 9.2 and 9.6 - Communication from an NGO (Helsinki Citizens' Assembly - Vanadzor) (16/08/2023) in the case of Mushegh Saghatelyan v. Armenia (Application No. 23086/08) and reply from the authorities (30/08/2023)

Mammadli Group v. Azerbaijan

Violation: Arrest and pre-trial detention to punish the applicants for his activities in the area of electoral monitoring or for their active social and political engagement in breach of Article 18 taken in conjunction with Article 5.

Last Examination: June 2023 - CM/Del/Dec(2023)1468/H46-3

Latest Submissions:

• 1475th meeting (September 2023) (DH) - Rule 9.1 - Communication from the applicant (31/07/2023) in the case of Aliyev v. Azerbaijan (Application No. 68762/14) (Mammadli group, 47145/14) 

• 1475th meeting (September 2023) (DH) - Rule 9.2 - Communication from an NGO (Election Monitoring and Democracy Studies Center) (01/08/2023) in the case of Mammadli v. Azerbaijan (Application No. 47145/14)

Sargsyan v. Azerbaijan

Violation: Impossibility for persons displaced during the active military phase (1992-1994) of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to gain access to their homes and properties in the region; lack of effective remedies.

Last Examination: December 2022 -  CM/Del/Dec(2022)1451/H46-6

Latest Submissions:

• 1475th meeting (September 2023) (DH) - Rule 9.2 - Communication from NGOs (Democracy Development Foundation, Helsinki Citizens Assembly of Vanadzor, Law Development and Protection Foundation, Protection of Rights without Borders NGO, Transparency International Ant-Corruption Center) (11/08/2023) in the case of SARGSYAN v. Azerbaijan (Application No. 40167/06)

L.B Group & W.D v. Belgium

Violation: Structural problem concerning the care of persons with mental health problems detained in prison.

Last Examination: September 2021 - CM/Del/Dec(2021)1411/H46-6

Latest Submissions:

• 1475e réunion (septembre 2023) (DH) - Règle 9.2 - Communication d'INDH (UNIA, Conseil central de surveillance pénitentiaire (CCSP) et Institut fédéral pour la protection et la promotion des droits humains (IFDH)) (20/07/2023) dans les affaires L.B. et W.D. c. Belgique (requêtes n° 22831/08, 73548/13)

Vasilescu Group v. Belgium

Violation: Structural problem concerning prison overcrowding, material conditions of detention and lack of effective remedies. 

Last Examination: June 2022 - CM/Del/Dec(2022)1436/H46-3

Latest Submissions:

• 1475e réunion (septembre 2023) (DH) - Règle 9.2 - Communication d'INDH (Conseil central de surveillance pénitentiaire (CCSP) et Institut fédéral pour la protection et la promotion des droits humains (IFDH)) (19/07/2023) dans l’affaire VASILESCU c. Belgique (requête n° 64682/12)

United Macedonian Organisation & Ilinden and Others Group v. Bulgaria

Violation:  Unjustified refusals by the courts to register an association aiming at achieving “the recognition of the Macedonian minority in Bulgaria”.

Last Examination: December 2022 - CM/Del/Dec(2022)1451/H46-8

Latest Submissions:

• 1459th meeting (March 2023) (DH) - Rule 9.1 - Communication from the applicant (13/02/2023) in the case of UMO ILINDEN AND OTHERS v. Bulgaria (Application No. 59491/00) 

• 1459th meeting (March 2023) (DH) - Rule 9.1 - Communication from the applicant (08/02/2023) in the case of Vasilev and Society of the Repressed Macedonians in Bulgaria Victims of the Communist Terror v. Bulgaria (Application No. 23702/15) (UMO Ilinden and Others group, 59491/00) 

• 1459th meeting (March 2023) (DH) - Rule 9.1 - Communication from the applicant (09/01/2023) in the case of UMO ILINDEN AND OTHERS v. Bulgaria (Application No. 59491/00) 

• 1475th meeting (September 2023) (DH) - Rule 9.2 - Communication from an NGO (Bulgarian Helsinki Committee (BHC)) (20/07/2023) in the case of UMO Ilinden and Others v. Bulgaria (Application No. 59491/00) 

S.Z Group & Kolevi v. Bulgaria

Violation: Systemic problem of ineffective criminal investigations with regard to shortcomings which affect investigations concerning both private individuals and law enforcement agents and lack of guarantees for the independence of criminal investigations against the Chief Prosecutor.

Last Examination: June 2023 - CM/Del/Dec(2023)1468/H46-8

Latest Submissions:

• 1475th meeting (September 2023) (DH) - Rule 9.2 - Communication from an NGO (Bulgarian Helsinki Committee) (01/08/2023) in the cases of KOLEVI and S.Z. v. Bulgaria (Applications No. 1108/02, 29263/12)

Y.T. Group v. Bulgaria

 Violation: Unjustified refusals by the courts to the applicants’ applications for gender reassignment. 

First examination - (group in standard procedure) 

Latest Submissions:

• 1475th meeting (September 2023) (DH) - Rule 9.2 - Communication from an NGO (Transgender Europe - TGEU) (16/08/2023) in the case of Y.T. v. Bulgaria (Application No. 41701/16)

• 1475th meeting (September 2023) (DH) - Rule 9.2 - Communication from an NGO (LGBTI Organization Deystvie) (04/05/2023) in the case of Y.T. group v. Bulgaria (Application No. 41701/16)

M.H. and Others v. Croatia

Violation: Lack of effective investigation into the death of the applicants’ daughter at the Croatian border; inadequate conditions of detention of migrant children; lack of administrative and court diligence and expedition concerning asylum seeking applicants’ detention and asylum proceedings; collective expulsion; violation of the right of individual application.

First Examination

Latest Submissions:

• 1475th meeting (September 2023) (DH) - Rules 9.2 and 9.6 - Communication from an NGO Centre for Peace Studies and the Human Rights House Zagreb) (18/07/2023) in the case of M.H. and Others v. Croatia (Application No. 15670/18) and reply from the authorities (26/07/2023) 

• 1475th meeting (September 2023) (DH) - Rules 9.2 and 9.6 - Communication from an NHRI (Ombudswoman of the Republic of Croatia) (18/07/2023) in the case of M.H. and Others v. Croatia (Application No. 15670/18) and reply from the authorities (26/07/2023)

  M.S.S. and Rahimi Groups v. Greece

Violation: Conditions of detention of asylum seekers and irregular migrants (including minors) and lack of an effective remedy to challenge conditions of detention; living conditions of asylum seekers; ineffective remedies against expulsion due to shortcomings in asylum procedure.

Last Examination: 29 September – 1 October 2020 - CM/Del/Dec(2020)1383/H46-7

Latest Submissions:             

• 1475th meeting (September 2023) (DH) - Rule 9.2 - Communication from NGOs (Refugee support Aegean (RSA) and Stiftung PRO ASYL) (20/07/2023) in the cases of M.S.S. v. Belgium and Greece and RAHIMI v. Greece (Applications No. 30696/09, 8687/08)

• 1475th meeting (September 2023) (DH) - Rules 9.2 and 9.6 - Reply from the authorities (08/08/2023) following a communication from an NGO (The Greek Council of Refugees) (31/07/2023) in the cases of M.S.S. v. Belgium and Greece and RAHIMI v. Greece (Applications No. 30696/09, 8687/08)

• 1475th meeting (September 2023) (DH) - Rules 9.2 and 9.6 - Reply from the authorities (08/08/2023) following a communication from an NGO (I Have Rights, Mobile Info Team) (31/07/2023) in the cases of M.S.S. v. Belgium and Greece and RAHIMI v. Greece (Applications No. 30696/09, 8687/08)

Ilias and Ahmed v. Hungary

Violation: Authorities’ failure to assess the risks of ill-treatment before expelling the applicants, asylum-seekers, to a “safe third country” (Ilias and Ahmed); applicant’s collective expulsion without identifying him and examining his situation (Shahzad).

 Last Examination: September 2022 - CM/Del/Dec(2022)1443/H46-11 

Latest Submissions:

• 1475th meeting (September 2023) (DH) - Rule 9.2 - Communication from an NGO (Hungarian Helsinki Committee) (01/08/2023) in the case of Ilias and Ahmed v. Hungary (Application No. 47287/15)

Laszlo Magyar v. Hungary

Violation: Life sentence without parole in combination with the lack of an adequate review mechanism, life sentence with parole after 40 years.

Last Examination: September 2022 - CM/Del/Dec(2022)1443/H46-12

 Latest Submissions:

• 1475th meeting (September 2023) (DH) - Rule 9.1 - Communication from the applicant (02/08/2023) in the case of LASZLO MAGYAR v. Hungary (Application No. 73593/10)

• 1475th meeting (September 2023) (DH) - Rule 9.2 - Communication from an NGO (Hungarian Helsinki Committee) (01/08/2023) in the case of LASZLO MAGYAR v. Hungary (Application No. 73593/10)

Talpis Group, J.L., & M.S. v. Italy

Violation: Failure to comply with the positive obligation to properly assess the risk to life in domestic violence cases and to secure a timely and adequate response. Sexism in the perception of the phenomenon of violence against women, including in court decisions, leading to secondary victimisation. Impunity for domestic violence acts due to a combination of judicial passivity and intervening changes to the prescription regime.

Last Examination:

• Talpis Group - 29 September – 1 October 2020 - CM/Del/Dec(2020)1383/H46-12

• J.L - First examination.

• M.S. - First examination.

Latest Submissions:

• 1475th meeting (September 2023) (DH) - Rule 9.2 - Communication from an NGO (Donne in rete contro la violenza (D.i.RE.)) (31/07/2023) in the case of Talpis v. Italy (Application No. 41237/14)

L. v. Lithuania

Violation: Lack of legislation governing the conditions and procedures relating to gender reassignment.

Last Examination: June 2022 - CM/Del/Dec(2022)1436/H46-13

Latest Submissions:

• 1475th meeting (September 2023) (DH) - Rule 9.2 - Communication from NGOs (TGEU-Transgender Europe (TGEU), Lithuanian trans rights and mutual support association “Trans Autonomija” (Trans Autonomija), National LGBTI rights organisation LGL (LGL), Human Rights Monitoring Institute (HRMI), and IGLA Europe) (27/07/2023) in the case of L. v. Lithuania (Application No. 27527/03)

Levinta v. The Republic of Moldova

Violation: Ill-treatment and torture in police custody; ineffective investigations; lack of an effective remedy; conviction based on evidence obtained under torture.

 Last Examination: September 2021 - CM/Del/Dec(2021)1411/H46-23

Latest Submissions:

• 1475th meeting (September 2023) (DH) - Rule 9.2 - Communication from an NGO (Promo-LEX Association) (03/08/2023) in the case of LEVINTA v. the Republic of Moldova (Application No. 17332/03)

• 1475th meeting (September 2023) (DH) - Rule 9.2 - Communication from an NGO ((Legal Resources Centre from Moldova) (26/07/2023) in the case of LEVINTA v. Republic of Moldova (Application No. 17332/03)

Petrescu v. Portugal

Violation: Overcrowding and poor conditions of detention in prisons and lack of effective remedies.

Last Examination: March 2021- CM/Del/Dec(2021)1398/H46-20

Latest Submissions:

• 1475th meeting (September 2023) (DH) - Rule 9.2 - Communication from NGOs (FORUM PENAL - ASSOCIAÇÃO DE ADVOGADOS PENALISTAS (FORUM PENAL – ASSOCIATION OF CRIMINAL LAWYERS), THE EUROPEAN PRISON LITIGATION NETWORK (EPLN)) (03/07/2023) in the case of Petrescu v. Portugal (Application No. 23190/17)

Bucur and Toma v. Romania

Violation: Conviction of a whistle-blower for having disclosed information on the illegal secret surveillance of citizens by the Intelligence Service; lack of safeguards in the statutory framework governing secret surveillance.

Last Examination: December 2022 - CM/Del/Dec(2022)1451/H46-28

Latest Submissions:

• 1475th meeting (September 2023) (DH) - Rule 9.2 - Communication from an NGO (Association for the Defence of Human Rights in Romania – Helsinki Committee (“APADOR-CH”)) (03/08/2023) in the case of BUCUR AND TOMA v. Romania (Application No. 40238/02)

S.C. Polyinvest S.R.L. and Others (Applications Concerning S.C. Polyinvest S.R.L. (No. 20752/07) and Omegatech Enterprises Ltd. (No. 24612/07)) & Seven Other Similar Applications v. Romania

Violation: Non-implementation of court’s or arbitral awards ordering State-controlled companies to pay various sums to the applicants/applicant companies.

Last Examination: March 2023 - CM/Del/Dec(2023)1459/H46-17

Latest Submissions:

• 1475th meeting (September 2023) (DH) - Rule 9.1 - Communication from the applicant (25/07/2023) in the case of Omegatech Enterprises Ltd. v. Romania (Application No. 24612/07) (judgment S.C. Polyinvest S.R.L. and Others v. Romania (No. 20752/07)) (Sacaleanu group, 73970/01)

Dmitriyevskiy Group v. Russia

Violation: Unjustified prosecution for alleged hate speech and/or extremism.

First Examination.

Latest Submission:

• 1475th meeting (September 2023) (DH) - Rule 9.2 - Communication from an NGO (Crew Against Torture) (17/07/2023) in the case of Dmitriyevskiy v. Russian Federation (Application No. 42168/06)

Taganrog LRO and Others v. Russia

Violation: Various rights of the Jehovah’s Witnesses

Last Examination: December 2022 - CM/Del/Dec(2022)1451/H46-33

Latest Submissions:

• 1475th meeting (September 2023) (DH) - Rule 9.2 - Communication from NGOs (Memorial Human Rights Defence, Centre and SOVA Center for Information and Analysis) (11/08/2023) in the case of Taganrog LRO and Others v. Russian Federation (Application No. 32401/10)

• 1475th meeting (September 2023) (DH) - Rule 9.2 - Communication from an NGO (European Association of Jehovah’s Witnesses) (07/07/2023) in the case of Taganrog LRO and Others v. Russian Federation (Application No. 32401/10)

• 1475th meeting (September 2023) (DH) - Rule 9.2 - Communication from an NGO (16/06/2023) in the case of Taganrog LRO and Others v. Russia (Application No. 32401/10)

 Bati and Others v. Turkey

Violations: Ineffectiveness of investigations against law enforcement officers in allegations of torture and ill-treatment and impunity.

Last Examination: September 2022- CM/Del/Dec(2022)1443/H46-27

Latest Submissions:

• 1475th meeting (September 2023) (DH) - Rules 9.2 and 9.6 - Reply from the authorities (08/08/2023) following a communication from NGOs (Truth Justice Memory Center (Hafıza Merkezi), Human Rights Association (İnsan Hakları Derneği) and Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (Türkiye İnsan Hakları Vakfı)) (07/08/2023) in the case of BATI AND OTHERS v. Turkey (Application No. 33097/96)

Selahattin Demirtas v. Turkey (No. 2)

Violation: Unjustified detention of the applicants without reasonable suspicion that they had committed an offence, with the ulterior purpose of stifling pluralism and limiting freedom of political debate. Unforeseeable lifting of the parliamentary immunity and subsequent criminal proceedings to penalise the applicants for their political speeches.

Last Examination: June 2023 - CM/Del/Dec(2023)1468/H46-33

Latest Submissions:

• 1475th meeting (September 2023) (DH) - Rule 9.1 - Communication from the applicant (31/07/2023) in the case of Selahattin Demirtas v. Turkey (no. 2) (Application No. 14305/17)

Kavala v. Turkey

Violation: Unjustified and extended detention of the applicant without reasonable suspicion and with the ulterior purpose of reducing him to silence.

Last Examination: June 2023 -  CM/Del/Dec(2023)1468/H46-35

Latest Submissions:

• 1475th meeting (September 2023) (DH) - Rule 9.1 - Communication from the applicant (30/08/2023) in the case of Kavala v. Türkiye (Application No. 28749/18)

• 1475th meeting (September 2023) (DH) - Rule 9.1 - Communication from the applicant (11/07/2023) in the case of 11/07/2023) in the case of Kavala v. Türkiye (Application No. 28749/18)

Xenides-Arestis Group v. Turkey

Violation: Continuous denial of access to property in the northern part of Cyprus (individual measures and just satisfaction).

Last Examination: September 2022 - CM/Del/Dec(2022)1443/H46-31

Latest Submissions:

• 1475th meeting (September 2023) (DH) - Rule 9.1 - Communication from the applicants’ representative (04/08/2023) in the cases of XENIDES-ARESTIS, LORDOS AND OTHERS, SAVERIADES, DEMADES, DIOGENOUS AND TSERIOTIS, EVAGOROU CHRISTOU, EPIPHANIOU AND OTHERS, RAMON, HADJIPROCOPIOU AND OTHERS, IORDANIS IORDANOU, ROCK RUBY HOTELS LTD and SKYROPIIA YIALIAS LTD v. Turkey (Applications No. 46347/99, 15973/90, 16160/90, 16219/90, 16259/90, 18403/91, 19900/92, 29092/95, 37395/97, 43685/98, 46159/99, 47884/99).  

• 1475th meeting (September 2023) (DH) - Rule 9.1 - Communication from the applicant (29/06/2023) in the case of ORPHANIDES v. Turkey (Application No. 36705/97) (Xenides Arestis group, 46347/99)

Mckerr v. The United Kingdom

Violation: Actions of security forces in Northern Ireland in the 1980s and 1990s; failure to conduct Article 2 - compliant investigations.

Last Examination: June 2023 - CM/Del/Dec(2023)1468/H46-41

Latest Submissions:

• 1475th meeting (September 2023) (DH) - Rule 9.2 - Communication from an NGO (Committee on the Administration of Justice) (02/08/2023) in the case of MCKERR v. the United Kingdom (Application No. 28883/95)

• 1475th meeting (September 2023) (DH) - Rule 9.2 - Communication from an NGO (Malone House group) (31/07/2023) in the case of MCKERR v. the United Kingdom (Application No. 28883/95)

• 1475th meeting (September 2023) (DH) - Rule 9.2 - Communication from an NHRI (Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission) (04/07/2023) in the case of MCKERR v. the United Kingdom (Application No. 28883/95)