Communicated on 17 October 2019

THIRD SECTION

Application no. 22481/18 Galina Vasilyevna FRENKEL and Anfisa Mikhaylovna LINKOVA

against Russia and 4 other applications (see list appended)

STATEMENT OF FACTS

The applicants are Russian nationals. They bought flats from private parties. The State authorities reclaimed the flats, and the applicants ’ title to the real property in question was annulled.

The circumstances of the cases

The facts of the cases, as submitted by the applicants, may be summarised as follows.

The applicants in this case are Galina Vasilyevna Frenkel who was born on 3 June 1959, and Anfisa Mikhaylovna Linkova who was born on 29 December 1926. Both applicants live in Moscow. The first applicant is the second applicant ’ s daughter. They are represented by I. Vakhitov , a lawyer practicing in the Moscow Region.

(a) Transactions in respect of the flat later purchased by the first applicant

L. was the owner of the flat located at 29-1-423 Ulitsa Musy Dzhalilya in Moscow. On 24 June 2013 L. died.

On 18 November 2014 Z. contacted the notary as L. ’ s heir. She presented a certified copy of the court judgment of 16 September 2014 restoring the time-limit for her to accept inheritance.

On 24 November 2014 the notary issued Z. with a certificate confirming her title to L ’ s flat. On an unspecified date the state registration authorities registered Z. ’ s title to the flat.

On 16 February 2015 Z. sold the flat to R. On an unspecified date the state registration authorities registered R. ’ s title to the flat.

On 9 June 2015 R. sold the flat to the first applicant. The state registration authorities registered the first applicant ’ s title to the flat.

The applicants moved into the flat and resided there.

(b) Termination of the first applicant ’ s title to the flat

On an unspecified date the Moscow City Property Department brought a civil action challenging, inter alia, the first applicant ’ s title to the flat. The Property Department claimed that the judgment submitted by Z. to the notary had been forged and that Z. had not been L. ’ s heir. L. died intestate with no surviving kin and the City of Moscow should be recognised as his legal successor in respect of the flat being bona vacantia .

On 13 July 2016 the Nagatinskiy District Court of Moscow dismissed the Peroperty Department ’ s claims in full recognising that the first applicant had bought the flat in good faith. The Property Department and the prosecutor ’ s office appealed.

On 4 April 2017 the Moscow City Court quashed the judgment of 13 July 2016 and granted the Property Department ’ s claims in full. It recognised the Moscow City ’ s title to the flat and ordered the applicants ’ eviction.

On 17 November 2017 and 18 January 2018 the City Court and the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation respectively dismissed the first applicant ’ s cassation appeals.

The applicant in this case is Andrey Petrovich Bespalov who was born on 24 March 1971 and lives in St Petersburg.

(a) Transaction in respect of the flat later purchased by the applicant

Lukh . was the owner of the flat located at 69-7-1 Tikhoretskiy Prospekt in St Petersburg. On 1 December 2009 Lukh . died .

On 11 November 2016 the state registration authorities registered Naum . ’ s title to the flat on the basis of a submitted copy of a judgment rendered by the Frunzenskiy District Court of St Petersburg on 28 June 2006.

On 25 November 2016 Naum . sold the flat to Bog. The state registration authorities registered Bog. ’ s title to the flat.

On 10 February 2017 Bog. sold the flat to the applicant. The state registration authorities registered his title to the flat.

(b) Termination of the applicant ’ s title to the flat

On an unspecified date the District Administration brought a civil claim against several persons, including the applicant, seeking the recognition of the City ’ s title to the flat. The Administration claimed that at no time had the Frunzenskiy District Court of St Petersburg delivered the judgment recognising Naum . ’ s title to the flat. Lukh . had died intestate with no surviving kin and the City of St Petersburg should be recognised as her legal successor in respect of the flat being bona vacantia .

On 25 October 2017 the Kalininskiy District Court of St Petersburg granted the Administration ’ s claims in full. It relied on the Civil Code provisions permitting the State to recover property from its bona fide owner. The court reasoned that, in any event, the applicant had failed to demonstrate due diligence when buying the flat and he could not claim to be its bona fide owner. The frequency with which the flat had changed hands should have been a red flag for him.

On 10 April 2018 the St Petersburg City Court upheld the judgment of 25 October 2017 on appeal.

On 20 June and 1 September 2018 the City Court and the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation respectively dismissed the applicant ’ s cassation appeals.

The applicants in this case are Viktor Vasilyevich Zadorozh nyy who was born on 1 September 1991, Svetlana Anatolyevna Zadoro zhnaya who was born on 4 August 1969, Olga Anatolyevna Zador ozhnaya who was born on 7 March 1980, and Eleonora Viktorovna Zadorozhn aya who was born on 13 December 2016. The applicants live in Balashikha , Moscow Region. They are represented by I. Vakhitov , a lawyer practicing in the Moscow Region.

(a) Transaction in respect of the flat later purchased by the applicant

The Ministry of Defence was the original owner of the flat located at 10 ‑ 78, Bulvar Nesterova , Mkr . Aviatorov in Balashikha , Moscow Region. On 29 November 2012 the state registration authorities registered its title to the flat.

On an unspecified date S. and several other persons forged a set of documents, according to which the flat was assigned to the V. family as social housing. Subsequently the state registration authorities registered the V. family ’ s title to the flat.

On 15 August 2013 the V. family sold the flat to K. The state registration authorities registered K. ’ s title to the flat.

On 23 September 2013 K. sold the flat to the first applicant. On 30 September 2013 the state registration authorities registered the first applicant ’ s title to the flat. The applicants moved into the flat and resided there.

(b) Termination of the first applicant ’ s title to the flat

On 16 February 2016 the Balashikha Town Court found S. and several other persons guilty of the fraudulent misappropriation of the flat.

On an unspecified date the Ministry of Defence brought a civil claim against the first applicant and previous owners of the flat seeking the restitution of the title to the flat and the applicants ’ eviction.

On 17 March 2017 the Town Court granted the Ministry ’ s claims in full. The applicants appealed.

On 29 January 2018 the Moscow Regional Court upheld the judgment of 17 March 2017 on appeal.

On 8 June and 23 July 2018 the Regional Court and the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation respectively dismissed the applicants ’ cassation appeals.

The applicants in this case are Tatyana Valeryevna B ystrova who was born on 30 June 1986, Artem Stanislavovich Bys trov who was born on 24 October 2010, Valeriya Stanislavovna Bystrova who was born on 24 October 2011, and Stanislav Olegovich Bystrov who was born on 24 August 1986. The first and the fourth applicants are husband and wife. They are the second and third applicants ’ parents. The applicants live in Balashikha , Moscow Region. They are represented by I. Vakhitov , a lawyer practicing in the Moscow Region.

(a) Transaction in respect of the flat later purchased by the applicant

The Ministry of Defence was the original owner of the flat located at 1 ‑ 252, Bulvar Nesterova , Mkr . Aviatorov in Balashikha , Moscow Region. On 12 September 2012 the state registration authorities registered its title to the flat.

On an unspecified date S. and several other persons forged a set of documents, according to which the flat was assigned to Kul. as social housing. Subsequently the state registration authorities registered Kul. ’ s title to the flat.

On 21 March 2013 K. sold the flat to Rom., the first applicant ’ s mother. On 1 April 2014 the state registration authorities registered Rom. ’ s title to the flat. The applicants moved into the flat and resided there.

On 12 April 2014 Rom. sold the flat to the first applicant. On 17 April 2014 the state registration authorities registered the first applicant ’ s title to the flat.

(b) Termination of the first applicant ’ s title to the flat

On 16 February 2016 the Balashikha Town Court found Kul. and several other persons guilty of the fraudulent misappropriation of the flat.

On an unspecified date the Ministry of Defence brought a civil claim against the first applicant and previous owners of the flat seeking the restitution of the title to the flat and the applicants ’ eviction.

On 20 March 2017 the Town Court granted the Ministry ’ s claims in full. The applicants appealed.

On 19 March 2018 the Moscow Regional Court quashed the judgment of 20 March 2017 and adopted a new judgment granting the Ministry ’ s claims in full.

On 28 June and 12 December 2018 the Regional Court and the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation respectively dismissed the first applicant ’ s cassation appeals.

On 6 March and 3 June 2019 the Regional Court and the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation respectively dismissed the second and third applicants ’ cassation appeals

(a) Transaction in respect of the flat later purchased by the applicant

P. was the owner of the flat located at 321-124 Prospekt Pobedy in Chelyabinsk.

On 21 April 2017 the applicant bought P. ’ s flat. On 27 April 2017 the state registration authorities registered the applicant ’ s title to the flat.

It was later established that in March 2017 P. died intestate with no surviving kin. On 31 March 2018 the investigative committee instituted a criminal investigation in respect of the fraudulent misappropriation of the flat.

On an unspecified date the town administration brought a civil claim against the applicant seeking the title to the flat. They argued that, following P. ’ s death, the flat was bona vacantia and its title should be transferred to the State.

On 31 August 2018 the Kalininskiy District Court of Chelyabinsk granted the administration ’ s claims in full. It also ordered the applicant ’ s and her son ’ s eviction.

On 13 December 2018 the Chelyabinsk Regional Court upheld the judgment of 31 August 2018 on appeal.

On 7 March and 25 April 2019 the Regional Court and the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation respectively dismissed the applicant ’ s cassation appeals.

COMPLAINTS

Ms G. Frenkel (application no. 22481/18), Mr A. Bespalov (application no. 48375/18), Mr V. Zadorozhnyy (application no. 55025/18), Ms T. Bystrova (application no. 12185/19) and Ms A. Leontyeva (application no. 38903/19) complain under Article 1 of Protocol No. 1 to the Convention about the loss of the title to their property.

The applicants in cases nos. 22481/18, 55025/18 and 12185/19 allege that their eviction has been in contravention of Article 8 of the Convention.

QUESTIONS TO THE PARTIES

1. As regards the forfeiture by the applicants of the title to their respective flats, have Ms G. Frenkel (application no. 22481/18) , Mr A. Bespalov (application no. 48375/18), Mr V. Zadorozhnyy (a pplication no. 55025/18), Ms T. Bystrova (12185/19) and Ms A . Leontyeva (application no. 38903/19) been deprived of their possessions in the public interest, in accordance with the conditions provided for by law and in accordance with the principles of international law, within the meaning of Article 1 of Protocol No. 1?

If so, did that deprivation impose an excessive individual burden on the applicants?

2. As regards applications nos. 22481/18, 55025/18 and 12185/19, has there been an interference with the applicants ’ right to respect for their home, within the meaning of Article 8 § 1 of the Convention?

If so, was that interference in accordance with the law and necessary in terms of Article 8 § 2?

APPENDIX

No.

Application

no.

Lodged on

Applicant name

date of birth

place of residence

Represented by

22481/18

04/05/2018

Galina Vasilyevna FRENKEL

03/06/1959

Moscow

Anfisa Mikhaylovna LINKOVA

29/12/1926

Moscow

Ilyas Salimovich VAKHITOV

48375/18

09/10/2018

Andrey Petrovich BESPALOV

24/03/1971

St Petersburg

55025/18

19/11/2018

Viktor Vasilyevich ZADOROZHNYY

01/09/1991

Balashikha

Svetlana Anatolyevna ZADOROZHNAYA

04/08/1969

Balashikha

Olga Anatolyevna ZADOROZHNAYA

07/03/1980

Balashikha

Eleonora Viktorovna ZADOROZHNAYA

13/12/2016

Balashikha

Ilyas Salimovich VAKHITOV

12185/19

25/02/2019

Tatyana Valeryevna BYSTROVA

30/06/1986

Balashikha

Artem Stanislavovich BYSTROV

24/10/2010

Balashikha

Valeriya Stanislavovna BYSTROVA

24/10/2011

Balashikha

Stanislav Olegovich BYSTROV

24/08/1986

Balashikha

Ilyas Salimovich VAKHITOV

38903/19

13/07/2019

Anna Vladimirovna LEONTYEVA

15/01/1981

Chelyabinsk