Ecrthr case summaries

ECtHR - Sh.D. and others v. Greece, Austria, Croatia, Hungary, Northern Macedonia, Serbia and Slovenia (no. 141165/16)
Country of applicant: Afghanistan

Detention conditions in Greek police stations and living conditions in Idomeni Camp in northern Greece for five unaccompanied children were in breach of Article 3 of the Convention. A further violation was found in respect of Article 5 § 1 regarding the “protective custody” of unaccompanied children in police stations.

Date of decision: 13-06-2019
ECtHR - I.M. v. Switzerland, 9 April 2019, Application No. 23887/16
Country of applicant: Kosovo

It is necessary to make a proportionality assessment with consideration of both the gravity of the crime committed by the applicant and the interests of society, and the applicant’s individual rights, particularly his right to private and family life under Article 8.

The Federal Administrative Court failed to fully assess the impact that the measure of removal would have on the applicant. The evolution of the applicant's conduct since the occurrence of the crime, the applicant’s deteriorating medical condition, and his social, cultural and family ties in the host country were not sufficiently examined in the decision. The failure to assess the proportionality of the removal order and amounted to a violation of Article 8 of the Convention.

Date of decision: 09-04-2019
ECtHR – G.S. v. Bulgaria (no. 36538/17), 4 April 2019
Country of applicant: Iran

Extradition to Iran to face criminal charges would risk a violation of Article 3 due to possible exposure to flogging under Iranian penal law. 

Date of decision: 04-04-2019
ECtHR – Haghilo v. Cyprus, Application No. 47920/12, 26 March 2019
Country of applicant: Iran

Detention in police stations, places that by their very nature are designed to accommodate people for very short durations, may amount to degrading and inhuman conditions under Art. 3 ECHR if protracted for a long time.

Detention of a person with a view to deportation is contrary to Art. 5 § 1 (f) if unlawful under the Convention or domestic law. 

Date of decision: 26-03-2019
ECtHR - Khan v. France (no. 12267/16), 28 February 2019
Country of applicant: Afghanistan

The precarious living conditions in Calais and the failure of the French authorities to comply with judicial orders to protect the applicant, in view of his personal circumstances and young age, reach the threshold for a breach of Article 3.

Date of decision: 28-02-2019
Saber and Boughassal v. Spain, Applications 76550/13 and 45938/14, 18 December 2018
Country of applicant: Morocco

The Spanish authorities failed to properly consider all the relevant criteria, before initiating proceedings to expel two Moroccan nationals, who were awaiting their long-term residence permits, due to their criminal convictions. The proportionality of the measure was not adequately assessed and the applicants’ social and cultural ties with both Spain and Morocco were not taken into account.

Date of decision: 18-12-2018
ECtHR - M.A. and Others v. Lithuania (no. 59793/17), 11 December 2018
Country of applicant: Russia

The ECtHR ruled that failure to allow a Russian family with five children to submit asylum applications on the Lithuanian border and their removal to Belarus amounted to a violation of Article 3 ECHR. 

Date of decision: 11-12-2018
ECtHR - Khanh v Cyprus (Application no. 43639/12), 4 December 2018
Country of applicant: Vietnam
Keywords: Detention

The ECtHR ruled the conditions of the applicant’s detention, prior to her being deported from Cyprus, subjected her to hardship going beyond the unavoidable level of suffering inherent in detention and thus amounted to degrading treatment prohibited by Article 3 of the Convention.

Date of decision: 04-12-2018
K.G. v. Belgium (No. 52548/15), 6 November 2018
Country of applicant: Sri Lanka

The Belgian authorities carried out a reasonable assessment, balancing the risk to public safety with the applicant’s mental health, in deciding the applicant’s detention. The duration and medical care provided in detention were lawful and justified.

Date of decision: 06-11-2018
A.N. and Others v. Russia, Application nos. 61689/16 and 3 others
Country of applicant: Tajikistan, Uzbekistan

Russia had failed to substantially and effectively examine the repeated claims of the applicants that their extradition would constitute a violation of Article 3 ECHR. Given the current situation in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan and the individual circumstances of the applicants, a number of violations were found.

Date of decision: 23-10-2018