HODŽIĆ AND OTHERS v. BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
Doc ref: 37991/19;41449/19;41460/19;41462/19;41526/19;47038/19;53033/19;53035/19;57895/19 • ECHR ID: 001-209570
Document date: March 25, 2021
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FOURTH SECTION
DECISION
Application no. 37991/19 Vahudin HODŽIĆ and O thers against Bosnia and Herzegovina and 8 other applications
(s ee appended table)
The European Court of Human Rights (Fourth Section), sitting on 25 March 2021 as a Committee composed of:
Armen Harutyunyan, President, Jolien Schukking, Ana Maria Guerra Martins, judges,
and Viktoriya Maradudina, Acting Deputy Section Registrar,
Having regard to the above application s lodged on the various dates indicated in the appended table,
Having regard to the observations submitted by the respondent Government and the observations in reply submitted by the applicants,
Having deliberated, decides as follows:
FACTS AND PROCEDURE
The list of applicant s is set out in the appended table.
The applicants were represented by Mr O. Eterović , a lawyer practising in Sarajevo.
The applicants ’ complaints under Article 6 § 1 of the Convention and Article 1 of Protocol No. 1 concerning the non-enforcement or delayed enforcement of domestic decisions were communicated to the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina (“the Government”) on 13 February 2020 .
THE LAW
Having regard to the similar subject matter of the applications, the Court finds it appropriate to examine them jointly in a single decision.
The Government submitted that the applicants had failed to inform the Court of the fact that the final judgments in their favour had been enforced. They therefore requested the Court to reject the applications as an abuse of the right of individual application in accordance with Article 35 §§ 3 (a) and 4 of the Convention.
The applicants did not dispute the facts as presented by the Government.
The Court reiterates that an application may be rejected as an abuse of the right of individual application within the meaning of Article 35 § 3 (a) of the Convention if, among other reasons, it was knowingly based on false information or if significant information and documents were deliberately omitted either where they were known from the outset or where new significant developments occurred during the proceedings. Incomplete and therefore misleading information may amount to an abuse of the right of application, especially if the information in question concerns the very core of the case and no sufficient explanation is given for the failure to disclose that information (see Gross v. Switzerland [GC], no. 67810/10, § 28, ECHR 2014; S.A.S. v. France [GC], no. 43835/11, § 67, ECHR 2014; and Čaluk and Others v. Bosnia and Herzegovina ( dec. ) [Committee], nos. 3927/15 and 63 others, §§ 18-19, 25 September 2018).
Turning to the present case, the Court observes that the domestic decisions under consideration were fully enforced in respect of some of the applicants before notice of the applications was given to the Government (see the appended table). The applicants did not inform the Court about that development. The Court learned about it only from the Government ’ s observations of 15 September 2020. No convincing explanation for that omission was provided.
Having regard to the fact that the information withheld concerned the very core of the applications, the Court finds that such conduct was contrary to the purpose of the right of individual application. Lawyers must understand that, having due regard to the Court ’ s duty to examine allegations of human rights violations, they must show a high level of professional prudence and meaningful cooperation with the Court by sparing it the introduction of unmeritorious complaints and, both before proceedings have been instituted and thereafter, they must inquire diligently into all the details of the case, meticulously abide by all the relevant rules of procedure and must urge their clients to do the same. Otherwise, the wilful or negligent misuse of the Court ’ s resources may undermine the credibility of lawyers ’ work in the eyes of the Court and even, if it occurs systematically, may result in particular individual lawyers being banned from representing applicants under Rule 36 § 4 (b) of the Rules of Court (see Stevančević v. Bosnia and Herzegovina ( dec. ), no. 67618/09, § 29, 10 January 2017).
In the light of the foregoing, the Court considers that the present applications constitute an abuse of the right of individual application within the meaning of Article 35 § 3 (a) in fine of the Convention. They must therefore be rejected in accordance with Article 35 § 4 of the Convention.
For these reasons, the Court, unanimously,
Decides to join the applications;
Declares the applications inadmissible.
Done in English and notified in writing on 15 April 2021 .
{signature_p_2}
Viktoriya Maradudina Armen Harutyunyan Acting Deputy Registrar President
APPENDIX
List of applications raising complaints under Article 6 § 1 of the Convention and Article 1 of Protocol No. 1
( non-enforcement or delayed enforcement of domestic decisions )
No.
Application no.
Date of introduction
Applicant ’ s name
Year of birth
Relevant domestic decision
Start date of non-enforcement period
End date of non-enforcement period
Length of enforcement proceedings
37991/19
25/06/2019
(16 applicants)
Muamer MAKAÅ
1976Nedžad BUŽO
1972Zoran SAVIĆ
1976Bego TUFO
1972Dževad PALAVRA
1972Nijaz HUMIĆ
1972Almir JAMAK
1968Zufer BALIĆ
1967Amir HAŠIMOVIĆ
1968Aleksej VASILJEVIĆ
1974Alem SUBAŠIĆ
1973Goran KELIĆ
1972Vahudin HODŽIĆ
1970Natko RAIĆ
1981Mirsad KABULOVIĆ
1965Miroslav RODIN
1953Sarajevo Municipal Court,
02/03/2018
28/06/2018
04/06/2020 (for the applicant HODŽIĆ),
1 year(s) and 11 month(s) and 8 day(s)
26/02/2020 (for the applicant RAIĆ),
1 year(s) and 7 month(s) and 30 day(s)
26/02/2020 (for the applicant KABULOVIĆ),
1 year(s) and 7 month(s) and 30 day(s)
11/11/2019 (for the applicant RODIN),
1 year(s) and 4 month(s) and 15 day(s)
pending (for the remaining applicants)
More than 2 year(s) and 8 month(s) and 1 day(s)
41449/19
19/07/2019
(14 applicants)
Mevludin KALJANAC
1964Jasminka KURTOVIĆ
1974Danijela PRIMORAC
1973Gordana RAJEVIĆ-RADOVIĆ
1970Ismir SILAJDŽIĆ
1981Zijad VATREÅ
1973Stelica HRGIĆ-GRAPČANOVIĆ
1963Bruno FRANJIĆ
1964Adem ÄŒELIK
1959Alija KOTAREVIĆ
1962Elmira KARAHASANOVIĆ
1958Maja MARTINOVIĆ-MUK
1979Alma UŠANOVIĆ
1977Adnan MEMIŠEVIĆ
1979Sarajevo Municipal Court,
27/06/2016
20/10/2016
pending (for the remaining applicants)
More than 4 year(s) and 4 month(s) and 9 day(s)
18/12/2019 (for the applicant MEMIŠEVIĆ),
3 year(s) and 1 month(s) and 29 day(s)
41460/19
19/07/2019
(15 applicants)
Mevludin KALJANAC
1964Danijela PRIMORAC
1973Ismir SILAJDŽIĆ
1981Stelica HRGIĆ-GRAPČANOVIĆ
1963Adem ÄŒELIK
1959Alija KOTAREVIĆ
1962Muamer KAVAZOVIĆ
1974Nina KNEŽEVIĆ
1975Mevludin HAJDAR
1964Avni RIZVIĆ
1977Selma SILAJDŽIĆ
1958Muhidin RAŠIDOVIĆ
1976Adnan MEMIŠEVIĆ
1979Ivica PEROVIĆ
1962Adnan IKANOVIĆ
1980Sarajevo Municipal Court,
14/06/2016
29/08/2016
13/05/2020 (for the applicant RAŠIDOVIĆ),
3 year(s) and 8 month(s) and 15 day(s)
18/12/2019 (for the applicant MEMIŠEVIĆ),
3 year(s) and 3 month(s) and 20 day(s)
19/06/2020 (for the applicant PEROVIĆ),
3 year(s) and 9 month(s) and 22 day(s)
29/06/2020 (for the applicant IKANOVIĆ),
3 year(s) and 10 month(s) and 1 day(s)
pending (for the remaining applicants)
More than 4 year(s) and 6 month(s) and 1 day(s)
41462/19
18/07/2019
(18 applicants)
Verica GOLIJANIN
1965Semina FETAHOVIĆ
1980Elmedina AHMETHODŽIĆ
1981Muhamed MUJIĆ
1968Mustafa BUKVA
1973Mirsad Å LJIVO
1968Edin FAZLIĆ
1981Alan TRTIĆ
1976Saša PETROVIĆ
1978Ajlana KRUPIĆ
1976Aida MAŠIĆ
1985Almir PIKNJAČ
1972Milomir PANDUREVIĆ
1977Đenana SARAJLIĆ-LAGUMDŽIJA
1969Srđan MIČIĆ
1980Sanela FAZLIĆ KULOVAC
1979Ermin ZUKO
1978Mirza HADŽIĆ
1975Sarajevo Municipal Court,
28/10/2015
09/03/2016
11/06/2020 (for the applicant FAZLIĆ KULOVAC),
4 year(s) and 3 month(s) and 3 day(s)
28/05/2020 (for the applicant ZUKO),
4 year(s) and 2 month(s) and 20 day(s)
in 2016 (for the applicant HADŽIĆ),
Less than 1 year
pending (for the remaining applicants)
More than 4 year(s) and 11 month(s) and 20 day(s)
41526/19
17/07/2019
(11 applicants)
Ismir SILAJDŽIĆ
1981Jasminka KURTOVIĆ
1974Mevludin KALJANAC
1964Danijela PRIMORAC
1973Gordana RAJEVIĆ-RADOVIĆ
1970Zijad VATREÅ
1973Bruno FRANJIĆ
1964Muamera HAŠIMBEGOVIĆ
1975Raza MUHAREMOVIĆ
1962Edin KURTOVIĆ
1975Adnan MEMIŠEVIĆ
1979Sarajevo Municipal Court,
27/06/2014
04/04/2016
18/12/2019 (for the applicant MEMIŠEVIĆ),
3 year(s) and 8 month(s) and 15 day(s)
pending (for the remaining applicants)
More than 4 year(s) and 10 month(s) and 25 day(s)
47038/19
29/07/2019
Jasmina HERCEGOVAC
1956Sabina RIBICA
1962Sarajevo Municipal Court),
04/07/2016
07/11/2016
01/10/2019 (for the applicant HERCEGOVAC)
2 year(s) and 10 month(s) and 25 day(s)
pending (for the applicant RIBICA)
More than 4 year(s) and 3 month(s) and 22 day(s)
53033/19
27/09/2019
(20 applicants)
Spomenko PLAKALOVIĆ
1983Dragan PUCE
1955Vladimir TADIĆ
1982Senad HADŽIABDIĆ
1971Radosava KANLIĆ
1950Enisa OMEROVIĆ
1970Mevlida POLJAK
1971Sahra ŠENDEROVIĆ
1958Uma ŽERIĆ
1949Borislav BALABAN
1966Mirhad MUJKIĆ
1961Nedim AJETOVIĆ
1967Refik MURATSPAHIĆ
1979Anel BRULIĆ
1989Kenan KAPETANOVIĆ
1972Mustafa ZEC
1975Zemina ĆATIĆ
1962Ramiz ALIMANOVIĆ
1961Ramiza GLUÅ AC
1962Zdravko ÄŒOLO
1953Sarajevo Municipal Court,
12/02/2016
15/04/2016
06/01/2020 (for the applicant KAPETANOVIĆ),
3 year(s) and 8 month(s) and 23 day(s)
26/02/2020 (for the applicant ZEC),
3 year(s) and 10 month(s) and 12 day(s)
26/02/2020 (for the applicant ĆATIĆ),
3 year(s) and 10 month(s) and 12 day(s)
10/04/2020 (for the applicant ALIMANOVIĆ),
3 year(s) and 11 month(s) and 27 day(s)
11/06/2020 (for the applicant GLUÅ AC),
4 year(s) and 1 month(s) and 28 day(s)
25/10/2019 (for the applicant ÄŒOLO),
3 year(s) and 6 month(s) and 11 day(s)
pending (for the remaining applicants)
More than 4 year(s) and 10 month(s) and 14 day(s)
53035/19
27/09/2019
(22 applicants)
Marinko KOSORIĆ
1971Senad KADIĆ
1983Spomenko PLAKALOVIĆ
1983Vladimir TADIĆ
1982Anel BRULIĆ
1989Suad CERIĆ
1971Mladen KLJAJIĆ
1967Amer ĐEDOVIĆ
1979Mladen BAKULA
1985Željko MARTIĆ
1969Edin ÄŒELIK
1975Ratko LJEŠNIĆ
1971Amer BRULIĆ
1984Željko GLAVOČEVIĆ
1972Admir ĆULOV
1983Ibro BEÅ LIJA
1975Almir OSMANOVIĆ
1977Eldin PENJO
1991Edin DARDAGAN
1974Dubravka TODOROVIĆ
1982Armin ĐOZO
1988Muharem POTUROVIĆ
1983Sarajevo Municipal Court,
12/10/2016
01/12/2016
03/06/2020 (for the applicant OSMANOVIĆ),
3 year(s) and 6 month(s) and 3 day(s)
21/10/2019 (for the applicant PENJO),
2 year(s) and 10 month(s) and 21 day(s)
12/12/2019 (for the applicant DARDAGAN),
3 year(s) and 12 day(s)
27/12/2019 (for the applicant TODOROVIĆ),
3 year(s) and 27 day(s)
12/12/2019 (for the applicant ĐOZO),
3 year(s) and 12 day(s)
11/06/2020 (for the applicant POTUROVIĆ),
3 year(s) and 6 month(s) and 11 day(s)
pending (for the remaining applicants)
More than 4 year(s) and 3 month(s)
57895/19
25/10/2019
(4 applicants)
Hata HASANBEGOVIĆ
1964Rasema DOLJANČIĆ
1956Amira ZELIĆ
1959Ahmet ABDAGIĆ
1973Sarajevo Municipal Court,
05/05/2014
20/01/2016
14/05/2020 (for the applicant HASANBEGOVIĆ),
4 year(s) and 3 month(s) and 25 day(s)
14/05/2020 (for the applicant DOLJANČIĆ),
4 year(s) and 3 month(s) and 25 day(s)
30/01/2020 (for the applicant ZELIĆ),
4 year(s) and 11 day(s)
pending (for the applicant ABDAGIĆ)
More than 5 year(s) and 1 month(s) and 9 day(s)