resolution DH (98) 294

HUMAN RIGHTS

APPLICATION No. 26642/95

ZAKOWSKI AGAINST GREECE

(Adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 25 September 1998 at the 640th meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies)

The Committee of Ministers, under the terms of Article 32 of the Convention for the Protection of H u man Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (hereinafter referred to as “the Convention”),

Having regard to the report drawn up on 4 September 1996, by the European Commission of Human Rights in accordance with Article 31 of the Convention relating to the application lodged on 21 February 1995 by a French national, Mr Serge-François Zakowski against Greece;

Whereas on 14 October 1996 the Commission transmitted the said report to the Committee of Ministers and whereas the period of three months provided for in Article 32, paragraph 1, of the Convention has elapsed without the case having been brought before the European Court of Human Rights in pursuance of Art i cle 48 of the Co n vention;

Whereas in his application, as declared admissible by the Commission on 28 February 1996, the applicant complained of the excessive length of certain criminal proceedings brought against him;

Whereas in its report the Commission expressed, unanimously, the opinion that there had been a violation of Article 6, paragraph 1, of the Co n vention;

Whereas, at the 590th meeting of the Ministers' Deputies, the Committee of Ministers, having voted in accordance with the provisions of Article 32, paragraph 1, of the Convention, and agreed with the opinion expressed by the Commission, held, by a decision adopted on 15 May 1997, that there had been in this case a violation of Article 6, par a graph 1, of the Convention;

Whereas the Committee of Ministers examined the proposals made by the Commission when transmitting its report as regards just satisfaction to be awarded to the applicant, proposals supplemented by a letter of the President of the Commission dated 20 March 1997;

Whereas, at the 618th meeting of the Deputies, the Committee of Ministers, agreeing with the Commission's proposals, held by a decision adopted on 18 February 1998, in  accordance with Article 32, paragraph 2, of the Convention, that the government of the respondent State was to pay the applicant as just satisfa c tion, within three months, 1 640 000 drachmas in respect of non-pecuniary damage and that interest should be payable on any unpaid sum, calculated on the basis of each full elapsed month of delay at the statutory rate applicable on the date of this decision, it being understood that the interest would accrue from the expiry of the time-limit until full payment was placed at the disposal of the applicant;

Whereas the Committee of Ministers invited the government of the respondent State to inform it of the measures taken following its decisions of 15 May 1997 and 18 February 1998, having regard to Greece’s obligation under Art i cle 32, paragraph 4 of the Conve n tion to abide by them;

Whereas, during the examination of the case by the Committee of Ministers, the government of the respondent State accordingly indicated that the Commission's report had been sent out to the authorities directly concerned;

Whereas the Committee of Ministers satisfied itself that the gover n ment of the respondent State paid the applicant the total sum of 31 645,57 French francs as just satisfaction, within one month of the time-limit set, and thus no default interest was due in acco r dance with the above-mentioned decision of the Committee of Ministers on just satisfaction;

Whereas the Committee of Ministers noted, on the one hand the absence of any objection from the applicant as regards the fact that the payment was in French francs, and on the other hand, checked that the amount paid was equivalent to the amount awarded in drachmas,

Declares, after having taken note of the measures taken by the Government of Greece, that it has exercised its fun c tions under Article 32 of the Convention in this case;

Authorises the publication of the report adopted by the Commission in this case.