Strasbourg Court Found Judge Cvikova's Rules Violated, Awards Compensation

Bratislava/Strasbourg, June 14 (TASR) - The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg found in favour of Slovak judge Denisa Cvikova on Thursday (June 13) and ruled that her rights to personal freedom were violated by the extended duration of her stay in police custody and awarded her €19,500 in respect of non‑pecuniary damage, plus any tax that may be chargeable, TASR learnt from the court's website on Friday. In March 2020, the Specialised Criminal Court decided to remand in custody judge Cvikova and other Bratislava-based judges, who were charged with corruption, obstruction of justice and interference with court independence. In August of the same year, the court decided to free Cvikova from custody, however, the Supreme Court overruled that decision in October. Cvikova filed an appeal with the Constitutional Court, but it was turned down as well. Cvikova subsequently sought a legal redress over her custody with the European Court of Human Rights, claiming that her remand in custody was arbitrary and in the breach of her rights. She also sued for damages. According to the Justice Ministry, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that the decision to take the applicant into custody was relevant and justified, without any sign of arbitrariness, in the early stage of the criminal prosecution, but not later, once her appeal was turned down by the Supreme Court. Cvikova's tenure as judge has been suspended, since corruption-related charges were pressed against her during the operation Storm in 2020. mf/mcs