FIRST SECTION

DECISION

Application no. 20580/13 Mirosław SZAL against Poland

The European Court of Human Rights (First Section), sitting on 13 March 2018 as a Committee composed of:

Aleš Pejchal , President, Krzysztof Wojtyczek, Jovan Ilievski, judges,

and Renata Degener, Deputy Section Registrar ,

Having regard to the above application lodged on 12 February 2013,

Having deliberated, decides as follows:

FACTS AND PROCEDURE

1. The applicant, Mr Mirosław Szal , is a Polish national, who was born in 1961 and lived in Skowarcz .

2. The applicant ’ s complaint about the length of the criminal proceedings against him (Article 6 § 1 of the Convention) was communicated to the Polish Government, who were represented by their Agent, Ms J. Chrzanowska , of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

3. The Registry ’ s letter of 2 March 2017, sent to the prison facility, was returned to the Court with an annotation that the applicant had been released and the information of his home address. On 21 August 2017 the Registry ’ s letter allowing a time-limit for submission by the applicant his comments on the Government ’ s unilateral declaration was sent to this address but returned undelivered, with an annotation on the envelope: “the addressee moved out”. On 10 November 2017 the Registry sent another letter, by registered post, reminding the applicant that the time-limit allowed for submission of his comments on the Government ’ s unilateral declaration had expired on 18 September 2017. The applicant ’ s attention was drawn to Article 37 § 1 (a) of the Convention and a fresh time-limit was fixed for 7 December 2017. This letter was returned with an annotation on the envelope: “the addressee moved out”.

4. The applicant has not kept any contact with the Court since his last letter of January 2014.

THE LAW

5. The Court considers that, in these circumstances, the applicant may be regarded as no longer wishing to pursue his application, within the meaning of Article 37 § 1 (a) of the Convention. Furthermore, in accordance with Article 37 § 1 in fine , the Court finds no special circumstances regarding respect for human rights as defined in the Convention and its Protocols which require the continued examination of the case.

6. In view of the above, it is appropriate to strike the case out of the list.

For these reasons, the Court, unanimously,

Decides to strike the application out of its list of cases.

Done in English and notified in writing on 5 April 2018 .

Renata Degener AleÅ¡ Pejchal              Deputy Registrar President