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FOURTH SECTION

CASE OF KATIĆ AND OTHERS v. BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

( Application no. 50972/16 and 37 others -

see appended list )

JUDGMENT

STRASBOURG

27 June 2019

This judgment is final but it may be subject to editorial revision.

In the case of Katić and Others v. Bosnia and Herzegovina ,

The European Court of Human Rights ( Fourth Section ), sitting as a Committee composed of:

Stéphanie Mourou-Vikström , President, Georges Ravarani , Jolien Schukking , judges , and Liv Tigerstedt Acting Deputy Section Registrar ,

Having deliberated in private on 6 June 2019,

Delivers the following judgment, which was adopted on that date:

PROCEDURE

1. The case originated in applications against Bosnia and Herzegovina lodged with the Court under Article 34 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (“the Convention”) on the various dates indicated in the appended table .

2. The applicants were represented by Mr S. Zaklan , a lawyer practising in Mostar.

3. Notice of the application s was given to the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina (“the Government”).

THE FACTS

4. The list of applicant s and the relevant details of the applications are set out in the appended table.

5. The applicant s complained of the non-enforcement or delayed enforcement of domestic decisions .

THE LAW

I. JOINDER OF THE APPLICATIONS

6. Having regard to the similar subject matter of the applications, the Court finds it appropriate to examine them jointly in a single judgment.

II. ALLEGED VIOLATION OF ARTICLE 6 § 1 OF THE CONVENTION AND OF ARTICLE 1 OF PROTOCOL No. 1

7. The applicant s complained of the non-enforcement or delayed enforcement of domestic decisions given in their favour . They relied, expressly or in substance, on Article 6 § 1 of the Convention and on Article 1 of Protocol No. 1 , which read as follows:

Article 6 § 1

“In the determination of his civil rights and obligations ... everyone is entitled to a fair ... hearing ... by [a] ... tribunal ...”

Article 1 of Protocol No. 1

“Every natural or legal person is entitled to the peaceful enjoyment of his possessions. No one shall be deprived of his possessions except in the public interest and subject to the conditions provided for by law and by the general principles of international law.

The preceding provisions shall not, however, in any way impair the right of a State to enforce such laws as it deems necessary to control the use of property in accordance with the general interest or to secure the payment of taxes or other contributions or penalties.”

8. The Court reiterates that the execution of a judgment given by any court must be regarded as an integral part of a “hearing” for the purposes of Article 6. It also refers to its case-law concerning the non-enforcement or delayed enforcement of final domestic judgments (see Hornsby v. Greece , no. 18357/91, § 40, Reports of Judgments and Decisions 1997 ‑ II).

9. In the leading cases of Spahić and Others v. Bosnia and Herzegovina, nos. 20514/15 and 15 others, §§ 25-31, 14 November 2017, and Kunić and Others v. Bosnia and Herzegovina, nos. 68955/12 and 15 others, §§ 26 ‑ 31, 14 November 2017, the Court already found a violation in respect of issues similar to those in the present case.

10. The Court further notes that the decisions in the present applications ordered specific action to be taken. The Court therefore considers that the decisions in question constitute “possessions” within the meaning of Article 1 of Protocol No. 1.

11. Having examined all the material submitted to it, the Court has not found any fact or argument capable of persuading it to reach a different conclusion on the admissibility and merits of these complaints. Having regard to its case-law on the subject, the Court considers that in the instant case the authorities did not deploy all necessary efforts to enforce fully and in due time the decisions in the applicant s ’ favour.

12. These complaints are therefore admissible and disclose a breach of Article 6 § 1 of the Convention and Article 1 of Protocol No. 1 .

III. APPLICATION OF ARTICLE 41 OF THE CONVENTION

13. Article 41 of the Convention provides:

“If the Court finds that there has been a violation of the Convention or the Protocols thereto, and if the internal law of the High Contracting Party concerned allows only partial reparation to be made, the Court shall, if necessary, afford just satisfaction to the injured party.”

14. Regard being had to the documents in its possession and to its case ‑ law (see, in particular, Spahić and Others v. Bosnia and Herzegovina, nos. 20514/15 and 15 others, §§ 36-43, 14 November 2017, and Kunić and Others v. Bosnia and Herzegovina, nos. 68955/12 and 15 others, §§ 37 ‑ 46, 14 November 2017), the Court considers it reasonable to award the sums indicated in the appended table.

15. The Court further notes that the respondent State has an outstanding obligation to enforce the judgments which remain enforceable .

16. The Court considers it appropriate that the default interest rate should be based on the marginal lending rate of the European Central Bank, to which should be added three percentage points.

FOR THESE REASONS, THE COURT , UNANIMOUSLY,

1. Decides to join the applications;

2. Declares the applications admissible;

3. Holds that these applications disclose a breach of Article 6 § 1 of the Convention and Article 1 of Protocol No. 1 concerning the non-enforcement or delayed enforcement of domestic decisions ;

4. Holds that the respondent State shall ensure, by appropriate means, within three months, the enforcement of the pending domestic decisions referred to in the appended table;

5. Holds

(a) that the respondent State is to pay the applicant s , within three months, the amounts indicated in the appended table, to be converted into the currency of the respondent State at the rate applicable at the date of settlement;

(b) that from the expiry of the above-mentioned three months until settlement simple interest shall be payable on the above amounts at a rate equal to the marginal lending rate of the European Central Bank during the default period plus three percentage points.

Done in English, and notified in writing on 27 June 2019 , pursuant to Rule 77 §§ 2 and 3 of the Rules of Court.

Liv Tigerstedt Stéphanie Mourou-Vikström

Acting Deputy Registrar President

APPENDIX

List of applications raising complaints under Article 6 § 1 of the Convention and Article 1 of the Protocol No. 1

( non-enforcement or delayed enforcement of domestic decisions )

No.

Application no.

Date of introduction

Applicant ’ s name

Date of birth

Relevant domestic decision

Start date of non-enforcement period

End date of non ‑ enforcement period

Length of enforcement proceedings

Amount awarded for non-pecuniary damage per applicant

(in euros) [1]

Amount awarded for costs and expenses per application

(in euros) [2]

50972/16

26/07/2016

Slavko Katić

17/11/1967

Mostar Cantonal Court, 23/09/2010

22/04/2011

pending

More than 8 year(s) and 9 day(s)

1,000

350

50977/16

26/07/2016

Miloš Vuković

24/04/1975

Mostar Cantonal Court, 23/09/2010

08/11/2010

pending

More than 8 year(s) and 5 month(s) and 23 day(s)

1,000

350

50995/16

26/07/2016

Edin Zekić

10/10/1967

Niko Bulajić

04/12/1963

Mostar Cantonal Court, 20/01/2011

13/09/2011

pending

More than 7 year(s) and 7 month(s) and 18 day(s)

1,000

350

51002/16

26/07/2016

(4 applicants)

Vahid Alagić

18/08/1960

Harun Kadić

24/08/1975

Džemal Imamović

22/04/1961

Arif ÄŒomor

30/12/1968

Mostar Cantonal Court, 01/09/2010

10/01/2011

pending

More than 8 year(s) and 3 month(s) and 21 day(s)

1,000

350

51022/16

26/07/2016

Merzuk Zlomušica

17/05/1968

Mostar First Instance Court, 18/10/2010

27/02/2012

pending

More than 7 year(s) and 2 month(s) and 4 day(s)

1,000

350

51027/16

26/07/2016

(4 applicants)

Feđa Trebović

06/08/1971

Enver Hebib

27/08/1970

Elvis Bojić

22/07/1973

Darko Drežnjak

03/03/1967

Mostar Cantonal Court, 02/06/2010

05/10/2010

pending

More than 8 year(s) and 6 month(s) and 26 day(s)

1,000

350

51036/16

26/07/2016

Zdravko Gotovac

10/01/1967

Samir Kuštrić

16/07/1974

Mostar Cantonal Court, 22/09/2010

21/04/2011

pending

More than 8 year(s) and 10 day(s)

1,000

350

51057/16

26/07/2016

(4 applicants)

Hajro Isaković

05/02/1966

Edin Ratkušić

20/02/1967

Zulfo Festić

21/12/1968

Milan Soldo

07/11/1980

Mostar Cantonal Court, 23/01/2013

05/05/2014

pending

More than 4 year(s) and 11 month(s) and 26 day(s)

1,000

350

51068/16

26/07/2016

Miralem Zelić

19/03/1970

Semir Masleša

16/09/1973

Mostar Cantonal Court, 11/11/2010

20/01/2011

pending

More than 8 year(s) and 3 month(s) and 11 day(s)

1,000

350

51103/16

22/07/2016

Sejad Sakić

18/02/1965

Mostar Cantonal Court, 13/05/2010

22/12/2010

pending

More than 8 year(s) and 4 month(s) and 9 day(s)

1,000

350

51111/16

22/07/2016

Dejan Đurić

27/10/1967

Mostar Cantonal Court, 04/03/2010

02/09/2010

pending

More than 8 year(s) and 7 month(s) and 29 day(s)

1,000

350

51126/16

22/07/2016

Adis Rokša

12/01/1972

Emir Nezirić

19/01/1971

Mostar First Instance Court, 11/01/2010

29/10/2010

pending

More than 8 year(s) and 6 month(s) and 2 day(s)

1,000

350

51128/16

22/07/2016

Edhem Garazlić

06/11/1971

Tahir ÄŒolak

23/03/1973

Mostar Cantonal Court, 06/04/2010

23/08/2010

pending

More than 8 year(s) and 8 month(s) and 8 day(s)

1,000

350

51132/16

22/07/2016

(3 applicants)

Marinko Perić

29/10/1971

Damir ÄŒuljak

17/02/1976

Mladen Puljić

02/10/1963

Mostar Cantonal Court, 19/05/2010

22/09/2010

pending

More than 8 year(s) and 7 month(s) and 9 day(s)

1,000

350

51140/16

22/07/2016

(4 applicants)

Esad Boškailo

28/10/1967

Nusret Hajdarović

10/10/1969

Marko Okuka

11/03/1981

Dževad Pehilj

08/10/1972

Mostar Cantonal Court, 16/02/2011

06/12/2011

pending

More than 7 year(s) and 4 month(s) and 25 day(s)

1,000

350

51158/16

22/07/2016

(3 applicants)

Jasmin Ćibo

12/09/1972

Sead Hakalović

30/12/1956

Mirza Rožajac

20/10/1979

Mostar Cantonal Court, 04/11/2010

06/04/2011

pending

More than 8 year(s) and 25 day(s)

1,000

350

51192/16

22/07/2016

Žarko Anić

15/08/1955

Dario Marić

21/12/1968

Mostar Cantonal Court, 12/05/2010

26/08/2010

pending

More than 8 year(s) and 8 month(s) and 5 day(s)

1,000

350

51236/16

22/07/2016

Aida Nanić

03/03/1968

Adisa Å ukman

01/05/1976

Mostar Cantonal Court, 16/09/2010

17/02/2011

pending

More than 8 year(s) and 2 month(s) and 14 day(s)

1,000

350

51239/16

22/07/2016

Haris Salčinović

16/10/1978

Mostar Cantonal Court, 12/08/2010

11/11/2010

pending

More than 8 year(s) and 5 month(s) and 20 day(s)

1,000

350

51252/16

22/07/2016

(3 applicants)

Elvira Cokoja

09/10/1969

Azra Bilanović

03/09/1960

Minadir Zlomužica

29/11/1971

Mostar Cantonal Court, 10/03/2011

15/11/2011

pending

More than 7 year(s) and 5 month(s) and 16 day(s)

1,000

350

51270/16

22/07/2016

(3 applicants)

Nail Balić

21/09/1968

Hidaet Vladavić

20/05/1977

Nazif Tinjak

10/03/1968

Mostar Cantonal Court, 02/09/2010

10/01/2011

pending

More than 8 year(s) and 3 month(s) and 21 day(s)

1,000

350

51287/16

27/07/2016

(4 applicants)

Delfa Kuljanin

30/12/1962

Suada Madžak

28/05/1963

Vesna Livaja

01/01/1952

Derviša Hamzić

14/03/1973

Mostar Cantonal Court, 01/04/2010

28/09/2010

pending

More than 8 year(s) and 7 month(s) and 3 day(s)

1,000

350

51291/16

27/07/2016

Edin Kebo

10/06/1971

Mostar Cantonal Court, 16/01/2014

08/09/2014

pending

More than 4 year(s) and 7 month(s) and 23 day(s)

1,000

350

51292/16

27/07/2016

Suad Tojaga

25/05/1970

Mostar First Instance Court, 03/05/2012

06/05/2014

pending

More than 4 year(s) and 11 month(s) and 25 day(s)

1,000

350

51293/16

27/07/2016

Slavko Miholjević

07/01/1962

Mostar Cantonal Court, 07/05/2014

02/07/2014

pending

More than 4 year(s) and 9 month(s) and 29 day(s)

1,000

350

51294/16

27/07/2016

(3 applicants)

Ahmet Memić

18/06/1960

Hajrudin Pozder

21/03/1952

Ivica Paponja

09/02/1951

Mostar Cantonal Court, 11/11/2010

21/02/2011

pending

More than 8 year(s) and 2 month(s) and 10 day(s)

1,000

350

51307/16

27/07/2016

Draženko Pudar

02/12/1981

Vanja Vukičević

18/04/1978

Mostar Cantonal Court, 23/09/2010

16/02/2011

pending

More than 8 year(s) and 2 month(s) and 15 day(s)

1,000

350

51309/16

27/07/2016

Amir Prevljak

15/11/1971

Zaim Mašić

01/01/1964

Mostar Cantonal Court, 29/04/2010

13/09/2010

pending

More than 8 year(s) and 7 month(s) and 18 day(s)

1,000

350

51311/16

27/07/2016

(3 applicants)

Amir Kuko

02/02/1974

Džemal Gaštan

28/03/1962

Šerif Palikuća

01/08/1964

Mostar Cantonal Court, 17/06/2010

25/10/2010

pending

More than 8 year(s) and 6 month(s) and 6 day(s)

1,000

350

51317/16

27/07/2016

Miro Katić

08/07/1968

ÄŒapljina First Instance Court, 02/11/2009

05/09/2012

pending

More than 6 year(s) and 7 month(s) and 26 day(s)

1,000

350

51388/16

27/07/2016

(3 applicants)

Bernard Rajič

11/09/1968

Zdravko Å evo

27/04/1962

Željko Krtalić

16/10/1969

Mostar Cantonal Court, 27/08/2010

10/11/2010

pending

More than 8 year(s) and 5 month(s) and 21 day(s)

1,000

350

51403/16

27/08/2016

(3 applicants)

Salko Marić

18/03/1969

Osman Pirušić

09/10/1969

Mirsad Brajević

22/09/1967

Mostar Cantonal Court, 13/05/2010

28/10/2010

pending

More than 8 year(s) and 6 month(s) and 3 day(s)

1,000

350

51406/16

27/07/2016

Ramiz Kurić

08/01/1967

Jasmin Ovnović

11/10/1969

Mostar Cantonal Court, 14/10/2010

Mostar Cantonal Court, 03/03/2011

07/03/2011

01/07/2011

pending

More than 8 year(s) and 1 month(s) and 24 day(s)

pending

More than 7 year(s) and 10 month(s)

1,000

350

51422/16

22/07/2016

(4 applicants)

Haris ÄŒevra

14/12/1973

Adnan Alikadić

04/06/1955

Ahmet Isić

15/12/1949

Milisav Sakovski

18/04/1951

Mostar Cantonal Court, 14/10/2010

25/03/2011

pending

More than 8 year(s) and 1 month(s) and 6 day(s)

1,000

350

51424/16

27/07/2016

Senad Pala

27/11/1966

Mostar Cantonal Court, 02/09/2010

08/11/2010

pending

More than 8 year(s) and 5 month(s) and 23 day(s)

1,000

350

51431/16

22/07/2016

Elvir Hasanović

16/12/1974

Mustafa Å krelja

21/06/1963

Mostar Cantonal Court, 23/02/2011

19/05/2011

pending

More than 7 year(s) and 11 month(s) and 12 day(s)

1,000

350

51435/16

27/07/2016

Branko Šimunović

12/10/1962

Toni Mršić

17/08/1970

Mostar Cantonal Court, 27/05/2010

27/08/2010

pending

More than 8 year(s) and 8 month(s) and 4 day(s)

1,000

350

51701/16

29/07/2016

(4 applicants)

Ivica Tomić

06/01/1968

Frano Džeba

02/01/1972

Senad Husnić

04/10/1966

Ilija Nikolić

27/08/1973

Mostar Cantonal Court, 18/08/2010

11/01/2011

pending

More than 8 year(s) and 3 month(s) and 20 day(s)

1,000

350[1] . Plus any tax that may be chargeable to the applicants.

[2] . Plus any tax that may be chargeable to the applicants.

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CASE OF KATIĆ AND OTHERS v. BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

CASE OF KATIĆ AND OTHERS v. BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

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