Voir Note explicative
See Explanatory Note
Viď Vysvetľujúcu poznámku
SVK
Numero de dossier
File-number Číslo spisu
COUR EUROPÉENNE DES DROITS DE L'HOMME EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS EURÓPSKY SÚD PRE ĽUDSKÉ PRÁVA
Conseil de l'Europe - Council of Európe Strasbourg, France
Rada Európy Štrasburg, Francúzsko
REQUETE
SŤAŽNOSŤ
APPLICATION
présentée en application de ľarticle 34 de la Convention européenne des Droits de l'Homme, ainsi que des articles 45 et 47 du Réglement de la Cour
underArticle 34 ofthe European Convention on Human Rights and Rules 45 and 47 ofthe Rules ofCourt
v zmysle článku 34 Európskeho dohovoru o ľudských právach a článkov 45 a 47 Rokovacieho poriadku Súdu
IMPORTANT: La présente requéte est un document juridique et peut affecter vos droits et obligations.
This application is aformal legal document and may affectyour rights and obligations.
DÔLEŽITÉ: Táto sťažnosť je právny dokument a môže ovplyvniť Vaše práva a záväzky.
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I - LES PARTIES
THE PARTIES
STRANY
A. LE REQUÉRANT/LA REQUERANTE
THE APPLICANT
STAŽOVATEĽ/SŤAŽOVATEĽKA
(Renseignements à fournir concernant le requérant/la requérante et son/sa représentant(e) éventuel(le))
(Fill in the following details of the applicant and the representative, if any)
(Vyplňte nasledujúce údaje o stěžovateľovi/stažovatelke a prípadnom/ej zástupcovi/kyni)
1. Nom de famille 2. Prénom(s)
Surname First name (s)
Priezvisko Meno
Sťažnosť skupiny občanov Slovenskej republiky podľa priloženého zoznamu
Sexe:
Sex: male
Pohlavie:
3. Nationalité 4. Profession
Nationality Slovak Occupation
Štátna príslušnosť Zamestnanie
5. Date et lieu de naissance
Date and place of birth
Dátum a miesto narodenia
6. Domicile
Permanent address
Trvalé bydlisko
- Tel. Číslo
8. Adresse actuelle (si différente de 6.) ……………………………………………………………………………..
Present address (if different from 6.)
Súčasná adresa (ak odlišná od bodu 6.)
9. Nom et prénom du/de la représentant(e)*
First name and surname of representative
Priezvisko a meno zástupcu/kyne* JUDr. Ivan Justin Škrabala
10. Profession du/de la représentant(e)
Occupation of representative: self-employed
Zamestnanie zástupcu/kyne
- Adresse du/de la représentant(e
Address of representative
Adresa zástupcu/kyne Horná 54, 974 01 Banská Bystrica, Slovak Republic
- Tel. Číslo +421 94800866 Číslo faxu ………………………..........
B. LA HAUTE PARTIE CONTRACTANTE
THE HIGH CONTRACTING PARTY
VYSOKÁ ZMLUVNÁ STRANA
(Indiquer ci-après le nom de l’Etat/des Etats contre le(s)quel(s) la requête est dirigée)
(Fill in the name of the State(s) against which the application is directed)
(Uveďte štát(y), proti ktorému/ým je sťažnosť podaná)
13. France.......................................................................................................................................
__________
*Si le/la requérant(e) est représenté(e), joindre une procuration signée par le/la requérant(e) en faveur du/de la représentant(e).
A form of authority signed by the applicant should be submitted if a representative is appointed.
Ak je stažovatel(ka) zastupovaný(á), treba priložiť splnomocnenie zástupcu/kyne, podpísané stažovatelom/kou.
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II - EXPOSÉ DES FAITS
STATEMENT OF THE FACTS
POPIS SKUTOČNOSTÍ
(Voir chapitre II de la note explicative)
(See Part II of the Explanatory Note)
(Viď časť II Vysvetľujúcej poznámky)
14. The subject of the complaint lodged by a group of Slovak citizens, relatives of legionnaires of the French Foreign Legion (further FFL), who are represented by an attorney, is to challenge the breach of Article 1 of the Protocol to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, adopted in Paris on 20th March 1952. In regard to the protection of property, 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. This basic right was impaired by the action of the French Republic that confiscated unpaid salaries of the former legionnaires of FFL, participating in the war in Vietnam in 1946-1954 and which were captured and many of which were imprisoned in former communist countries for serving in foreign armed forces and their bank accounts were impounded in benefit of the state. Because of the existence of ‘Iron Curtain‘, former legionnaires and their relatives as citizens of communist countries were not able to request the payment of salaries under the threat of persecution by totalitarian regime reigning in their home countries.
Justification
The reasons stated why the French Republic refused to pay these salaries are misleading and conflicting as well as breaching the Article 1 of the Protocol to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. The request to repay the accounts, which are subject to inheritance rights and in each democratic country such rights cannot be lapsed, was initiated already in 1999 by the Ministry of foreign affairs of the Slovak Republic and the Embassy of the Slovak Republic in Paris. FFL refused to provide these two official institutions of the Slovak Republic with the list of Slovak citizens and amounts on the so called ‘sleeping accounts‘ linked to service of Slovaks in FFL. As a result, both institutions accepted the refusal and stopped to deal with the issue. Therefore, a direct appeal was sent to the president of the French Republic - Nicolas Sarkozy.
Since the year 2000 Ľudovít Bardiovský, the only surviving legionnaire, together with several relatives of those participating in the Vietnam war 1946-1954, tried to achieve the repayment of unpaid salaries deposited in bank accounts in France. After the death of Ľudovít Bardiovský efforts to regain the unpaid salaries are made by his daughter Slavomíra Kakošová, née Bardiovská. All involved persons are members of a non-governmental organization registered in the Slovak Republic, which has a section uniting relatives of FFL legionnaires. This organization asked for help the Ministry of foreign affairs of the Slovak Republic, the Embassy of the Slovak Republic in France, the Embassy of France in Slovakia as well as French authorities including the president Nicolas Sarkozy. Several replies and the answer sent to the daughter of the former legionnaire Ľudovít Bardiovský confirm that the French president only formally forwarded her letter as well as the letters of the non-governmental organization uniting former Czechoslovak political prisoners to French institutions which had no genuine interest to resolve the problem of the betrayed legionnaires and hence all the requests were refused.
It is regrettable that France, in contrast to the United Kingdom or Germany, which usually does not forget those who sacrificed their lives for the interests of the country, has not only sacrificed these people, but also deprived them of their rightful property, i.e. salaries by breaching the Protocol to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and its own laws as confirmed by the letter from the Office of the Ministry of defence and former soldiers No. DEF/EMAT/BRI/REPETRANT/19 dated 21st February 2002 stating that according to Articles 2262 and 2264 of the Civil Code, salaries, retained payments and money deposits are surrendered after the 30 years term, and therefore all bank accounts of legionnaires were impounded. Unfortunetaly, all approached institutions are indifferent to the destiny of participants in fightings in Indochina, as they are equally indifferent to social situation of the relatives left. So far, they had no interest to verify whether the opinion of the Ministry of defence and former soldiers is in accordance with French laws and the Convention.
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II - EXPOSÉ DES FAITS
STATEMENT OF THE FACTS
POPIS SKUTOČNOSTÍ
(Voir chapitre II de la note explicative)
(See Part II of the Explanatory Note)
(Viď časť II Vysvetľujúcej poznámky)
From several independent sources directly in France, including war veteran organizations, we have found that according to the French civil code the 30 years term of a lapsed right is related to commercial and civil affairs only and in any case it is necessary to consider obstacles and reasons for which the payables were not executed. France also does not take into account the fact that it was a special group of FFL members different from FFL members recruited now, because:
- The prevailing majority of former Czechoslovak citizens serving in FFL were emigrants, who fled from repression of communist regime started on 25th February 1948.
- According to acquired evidence, these emigrants were lured and recruited to FFL from migrants‘ detention camps.
- After the establishment of the communist rule in former Czechoslovakia, it was argued that our legionnaires were fighting in Vietnam for Prague and expansion of communism.
Already considering these arguments, the way how France deals with the group of former FFL members is immoral and appalling, because the legionnaires gave their young lives, health and the best years for France misled to believe to be fighting against communism. Unfortunately, the words of former president De Gaulle who once said that France had no friends, just its interests, come true.
The French civil code does not apply to salaries and retirement payments for those serving in the armed forces. It is the obligation of the state to repay retained salary if there is no obstacle to do so because of a soldier being sentenced for any offence. The issue is linked to bank accounts, which are subject to inheritance rights, which cannot be lapsed.
The right for protection of property is also a right for inheritance, which cannot be nepremlčateľné even after the death and the have right to it. We believe that by confiscation of unpaid salaries of former legionnaires France flagrantly and without precedent breached the basic right for protection of property guaranteed by the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.
After using all available legal means we have decided to lodge a complaint to the European Court of Human Rights.
Si nécessaire, continuer sur une feuille séparée
Continue on a separate sheet if necessary
V prípade potreby pokračujte na samostatnom hárku papiera
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III - EXPOSÉ DE LA OU DES VIOLATION(S) DE LA CONVENTION ET/OU DES
PROTOCOLES ALLÉGUÉE(S), AINSI QUE DES ARGUMENTS À L’APPUI
STATEMENT OF ALLEGED VIOLATION(S) OF THE CONVENTION AND/OR PROTOCOLS
AND OF RELEVANT ARGUMENTS
POPIS NAMIETANÉHO/ÝCH PORUŠENIA/Í DOHOVORU A/ALEBO
PROTOKOLOV A ARGUMENTOV NA PODPORU STAŽNOSTI
(Voir chapitre III de la note explicative)
(See Part III of the Explanatory Note)
(Viď čast III Vysvetľujúcej poznámky)
15.
Protocol to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. Paris, 20th March 1952
Article 1
Protection of property
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.
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IV - EXPOSÉ RELATIF AUX PRESCRIPTIONS DE L’ARTICLE 35 § 1 DE LA CONVENTION
STATEMENT RELATIVE TO ARTICLE 35 § 1 OF THE CONVENTION
PREHLÁSENIE V ZMYSLE USTANOVENÍ ČLÁNKU 35 ODS. 1 DOHOVORU
(Voir chapitre IV de la note explicative. Donner pour chaque grief, et au besoin sur une feuille séparée, les renseignements demandés sous les points 16 à 18 ci-après)
(See Part IV of the Explanatory Note. If necessary, give the details mentioned below under points 16 to 18 on a separate sheet for each separate
complaint)
(Viď časť IV Vysvetlujúcej poznámky. V prípade potreby odpovedajte na body 16 až 18 na samostatnom hárku papiera, osobitne pre
každé namietané porušenie Dohovoru.)
16. Décision interne définitive (date et nature de la décision, organe - judiciaire ou autre – l’ayant rendue)
final decision (date, court or authority and nature of decision)
Konečné rozhodnutie (dátum, súd alebo iný orgán a druh rozhodnutia)
Until the date of the submission of our complaint, we have not received any answer to our appeal dated on 10th November 2011 to the letter from the head of the Military department at the Ministry of defence and former soldiers dated on 5th May 2011, which we sent to the Office of the president of the French Republic.
17. Autres décisions (énumérées dans l’ordre chronologique en indiquant, pour chaque décision, sa date, sa nature et
l’organe - judiciaire ou autre – l’ayant rendue)
Other decisions (list in chronological order, giving date, court or authority and nature of decision for each of
them)
Iné rozhodnutia (uveďte chronologicky dátum, súd alebo iný orgán a druh každého z rozhodnutí)
- 21st February 2002, Ministry of defence and former soldiers, letter No. DEF/EMAT/BRI/REPATRAN/16
- 4th April 2008 Office of the president of the French Republic, Philippe Jacob, letter Réf.: V00613
- 13th November 2009 Office of the president of the French Republic, Philippe Jacob, list Réf.:W01529
- 29th November 2010 Office of the president of the French Republic, Philippe Jacob, Réf.: b X01417
- 4th March 2011, Office of the minister of defence and former soldiers of the French Republic, Pierre Laugeay. letter No. DEF/CABSDBC/BSQC/CPC Pl/10-10448
- 5th May 2011, Office of the Ministry of defence and former soldiers, General Denis Merchier, letter No.
DEF/CM32/INT
18. Dispos(i)ez-vous d’un recours que vous n'avez pas exercé? Si oui, lequel et pour quel motif n’a-t-il pas été exercé?
Is there or was there any other appeal or other remedy available to you which you have not used? If so, explain why you have not used it.
Máte, resp. mali ste k dispozícii iné opravné prostriedky, ktoré ste nevyčerpali? Ak áno, vysvetlite z akých
dôvodov.
No.
Si nécessaire, continuer sur une feuille séparée
Continue on a separate sheet if necessary
V prípade potreby pokračujte na samostatnom hárku papiera
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V - EXPOSÉ DE L'OBJET DE LA REQUÊTE ET PRÉTENTIONS PROVISOIRES POUR UNE
SATISFACTION EQUITABLE
STATEMENT OF THE OBJECT OF THE APPLICATION AND PROVISIONAL CLAIMS FOR
JUST SATISFACTION
POPIS PREDMETU SŤAŽNOSTI A PREDBEŽNÉ NÁROKY TÝKAJÚCE SA
SPRAVODLIVÉHO ZADOSŤUČINENIA
(Voir chapitre V de la note explicative)
(See Part V of the Explanatory Note)
(Viď čast V Vysvetľujúcej poznámky)
The subject of the complaint lodged by a group of Slovak citizens, relatives of legionnaires of the French Foreign Legion (further FFL), who are represented by an attorney, is to challenge the breach of Article 1 of the Protocol to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, regarding the protection of property. This basic right was impaired by the action of the French Republic that confiscated unpaid salaries of the former legionnaires of FFL, participating in the war in Vietnam in 1946-1954, which were captured and many of which were imprisoned in former communist countries for serving in foreign armed forces and their bank accounts were impounded in benefit of the state.
The reasons stated why French Republic refused to pay these salaries are misleading and conflicting as well as breaching the Article 1 of the Protocol to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. FFL refused to provide the Ministry of foreign affairs of the Slovak Republic with the list of Slovak citizens and amounts on the so called ‘sleeping accounts‘ linked to service in FFL.
From the controversial and biased answers, it is evident that by using various excuses and appeals and by referring to French legislation France attempts to avoid to adhere to the Protocol to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, regarding the protection of property.
In this case there is an old inheritance, which increased in value during the previous periods due to bank interest accumulation. FFL refused to disclose relevant details and there is a reason to assume that the information regarding the bank accounts were shredded on purpose. In order to avoid complications and unnecessary legal expansion to identify financial compensation, we propose to indemnify each affected family with 100.000 EUR. For each Slovak who served in FFL, there is huge documentation. Most of them were participants in combats in Vietnam, who either died or were imprisoned in former comunist countries. We can provide all necessary documents on request when our complaint will be dealt with.
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VI - AUTRES INSTANCES INTERNATIONALES TRAITANT OU AYANT TRAITÉ
L’AFFAIRE
STATEMENT CONCERNING OTHER INTERNATIONAL PROCEEDINGS
PREHLÁSENIE O PREDLOŽENÍ VECI INÝM MEDZINÁRODNÝM INŠTITÚCIÁM
(Voir chapitre VI de la note explicative)
(See Part VI of the Explanatory Note)
(Viď čast VI Vysvetľujúcej poznámky)
20. Avez-vous soumis à une autre instance internationale d’enquête ou de règlement les griefs énoncés dans la présente
requête? Si oui, fournir des indications détaillées à ce sujet.
Have you submitted the above complaints to any other procedure of international investigation or settlement? If
so, give full details.
Predložili ste vyššieuvedenú sťažnosť inému medzinárodnému vyšetrovaciemu alebo zmierovaciemu orgánu? Ak áno,
uveďte podrobnosti
No.
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VII - PIÈCES ANNEXÉES (PAS D'ORIGINAUX,
LIST OF DOCUMENTS UNIQUEMENT DES COPIES)
ZOZNAM DOKUMENTOV NO ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS,
ONLY PHOTOCOPIES
NEPREDKLADAJTE ORIGINÁLY DOKUMENTOV,
VÝLUČNE ICH FOTOKÓPIE)
(Voir chapitre VII de la note explicative. Joindre copie de toutes les décisions mentionnées sous ch. IV et VI ci-dessus. Se procurer, au besoin, les copies nécessaires, et, en cas d’impossibilité, expliquer pourquoi celles-ci ne peuvent pas être obtenues. Ces documents ne vous seront pas retournés.)
(See Part VII of the Explanatory Note. Include copies of all decisions referred to in Parts IV and VI above. If you do not have copies, you should
obtain them. If you cannot obtain them, explain why not. No documents will be returned to you.)
(Viď časť VII Vysvetľujúcej poznámky. Priložte kópie všetkých rozhodnutí uvedených vyššie v častiach IV a VI. Ak nemáte kópie a
nemôžete si ich zadovážiť, vysvetlite prečo. Predložené dokumenty Vám nebudú vrátené.)
- Letter from the Office of the Ministry of defence and former soldiers, No. DEF/EMAT/BRI/REPATRAN/16 dated 21st February 2002
- Letter from the Office of the president of the French Republic, Philippe Jacob, Réf.: V00613 dated 4th April 2008
- Letter from the Office of the president of the French Republic, Philippe Jacob, Réf.:W01529 dated 13th November 2009
- Letter from the Office of the president of the French Republic, Philippe Jacob, Réf.:b X01417 dated 29th November 2010
- Letter from the Office of the minister of defence and former soldiers of the French Republic, Pierre Laugeay No. DEF/CABSDBC/BSQC/CPC Pl/10-10448 dated 4th March 2011
- Letter from the Office of the Ministry of defence and former soldiers, Gen. Denis Merchier, No. DEF/CM32/INT dated 5th May 2011
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