Bulgaria pays compensations in three ECHR judgments

Sofia, 21 September 2007 - The Bulgarian government adopted a decision to pay compensations in three cases before the European Court of Human Rights. The applications were filed in 1999-2000.

The first case is that of Debeljanovi v. Bulgaria and concerns a refusal to restitute property, which the authorites claimed to be cultural heritage, to two brothers. The confiscation of the property was carried out on the basis of a moratorium on the restitution of property which is part of the cultural heritage of the country. The European Court stated that the moratorium's duration has been excessive - 12 years. In the meantime the state failed to compensate affected owners. The Debeljanovi brothers were awarded 1150 Euro for costs and expenses.

In the second case, Kovacheva and Hadjiilieva v. Bulgaria, the European Court held taht there had been a violation of the right to a fair trial within a reasonable period. The two applicants were awarded 1200 Euro each and 500 Euro in costs and expenses.

3000 Euro for non-pecuniary damages and 499 Euro for costs and expenses were awarded by the Court in the third case. Todor Todorov filed an applications against Bulgaria for prolonged pre-trial detention - 2 years. The Court held that the prohibition of torture and inhuman treatment, as well as the right to be brought promptly before a judge, had been violated.

Source: Mediapool