Information Note on the Court’s case-law 63

April 2004

Amihalachioaie v. Moldova - 60115/00

Judgment 20.4.2004 [Section II]

Article 10

Article 10-1

Freedom of expression

Conviction of lawyer for criticising a decision of the Constitutional Court: violation

Facts : The applicant is a lawyer and the President of the Moldova Bar Association. The Constitutional Court ruled that a law requiring lawyers to be members o f the Moldova Bar Association was unconstitutional. A local newspaper published an article on the debate which the Constitutional Court’s decision had sparked off among lawyers; the article quoted comments the applicant had made during a telephone intervie w with a journalist. The Constitutional Court found that the applicant’s comments were disrespectful and discourteous and imposed a fine of the equivalent of 36 euros.

Law : Article 10 – The interference, which was prescribed by law, pursued a legitimate ai m, namely maintaining the authority and impartiality of the judiciary. As to whether it was necessary in a democratic society, the Court noted that the impugned comments concerned a matter of general interest and were not excessive, or insulting of the jud ges. Since the applicant had not overstepped the bounds of acceptable criticism, there had been no “pressing social need” to restrict his right to freedom of expression.

Conclusion : violation (six votes to one).

Article 41 – The Court held that the finding of violation was sufficient to redress any non-pecuniary damage sustained by the applicant.

© Council of Europe/European Court of Human Rights This summary by the Registry does not bind the Court.

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