CEDH · CASELAW;COMMUNICATEDCASES;ENG — 28 février 2023

.s800EAC49 { font-size:12pt } .s379BC09C { margin-top:36pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-align:right } .sBB9EE52A { font-family:Arial } .s10950C61 { margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:14.2pt; text-align:justify } .s5E1364CA { margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:12pt; text-align:center; page-break-inside:avoid; page-break-after:avoid; font-size:14pt } .s339D85E6 { margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:14pt; text-align:center; page-break-inside:avoid; page-break-after:avoid } .s665E407E { margin-top:66pt; margin-bottom:14pt; text-align:center; page-break-inside:avoid; page-break-after:avoid } .s29100277 { font-family:Arial; font-weight:bold } .sA36B60A1 { font-family:Arial; font-style:italic } .s32563E28 { margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt } .s76CF415B { page-break-before:always; clear:both } .s23860FF7 { margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:14.2pt; text-align:center } .sC1DDFF0 { width:134.92%; border-collapse:collapse } .sE33C4500 { height:37.9pt } .s94CC84C5 { width:6.4%; border:0.75pt solid #949494; padding:1.02pt 5.03pt; vertical-align:top; background-color:#dfdfdf } .s2EF62ED2 { margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:12pt } .sEECE831 { font-family:Arial; font-weight:bold; color:#474747 } .s77ED4C29 { width:40.74%; border:0.75pt solid #949494; padding:1.02pt 5.03pt; vertical-align:top; background-color:#dfdfdf } .sE1D0D8F7 { width:17.14%; border:0.75pt solid #949494; padding:1.02pt 5.03pt; vertical-align:top; background-color:#dfdfdf } .s4EBB81E5 { width:14.3%; border:0.75pt solid #949494; padding:1.02pt 5.03pt; vertical-align:top; background-color:#dfdfdf } .sE725D256 { width:21.42%; border:0.75pt solid #949494; padding:1.02pt 5.03pt; vertical-align:top; background-color:#dfdfdf } .sFF0C5B0 { width:6.4%; border:0.75pt solid #949494; padding:1.02pt 5.03pt; vertical-align:top } .s4E8E78F8 { width:40.74%; border:0.75pt solid #949494; padding:1.02pt 5.03pt; vertical-align:top } .s1D8F6704 { width:17.14%; border:0.75pt solid #949494; padding:1.02pt 5.03pt; vertical-align:top } .sB21A6DB4 { width:14.3%; border:0.75pt solid #949494; padding:1.02pt 5.03pt; vertical-align:top } .sD5329576 { width:21.42%; border:0.75pt solid #949494; padding:1.02pt 5.03pt; vertical-align:top } Published on 20 March 2023   THIRD SECTION Application no. 45101/20 Soteris AVGOUSTIS and Others against Cyprus lodged on 7 October 2020 communicated on 28 February 2023 SUBJECT MATTER OF THE CASE The applicants are employees or pensioners of the public sector. The applications concern the deduction of a tiered percentage monthly from their gross salaries and pensions based on the Law on the Reduction in Emoluments and Pensions of Officials, Employees and Pensioners of the Public Service and of the broader Public Sector of 2012 (Law   no.   168(I)/2012). The applicants filed recourses to challenge their salary and pension deductions arguing, inter alia , that Law 168(I)/2012 had been unconstitutional, as it placed a restriction on their right to property on grounds that had not been permissible under Article 23 of the Constitution. They supported their arguments by reference, inter alia, to the findings of the majority of the Supreme Court in the case of Maria Koutselini-Ioannidou v.   The Republic of Cyprus, no. 740/2011 and others, (2014) 3 A.A.D. 361 (plenary judgment of 7 October 2014). In that case the Supreme Court held, among others, that the suspension of pensions while public servants held another public position by virtue of Law 88(I)/2011 breached Article 23 of the Constitution, which had provided greater protection than Article 1 of Protocol No. 1. The court based its finding on the fact that paragraph 3 of Article 23 of the Constitution had not included public interest or public benefit as a justification for limiting the right to property. Consequently, the court held that the suspension of pensions had been unconstitutional as it constituted a restriction to the right to property on grounds that had not been permitted by paragraph 3 of Article 23 of the Constitution. Following, inter alia, the above case-law, the Administrative Court allowed the applicants’ recourses and held, by majority, that Law 168(I)/2012 had been unconstitutional. On 10 April 2020 the plenary of the Supreme Court (appellate jurisdiction) allowed the appeals lodged by the Government, and held that Law 168(I)/2012 had been constitutional, adopting the reasoning of the majority in the earlier case of George Charalambous and others v.   The   Republi of Cyprus, case no. 1480/2011 and others (2014)   3   A.A.D.   175 (plenary judgment of 9 December 2011). In that case the court had stated that the deduction of special contribution from the salaries and pensions of the applicants by virtue of Law 112(I)/2011 could not be justified by reasons of public benefit under paragraph 3 of Article 23 of the Constitution. Nonetheless, the court held that the relatively small reduction of the salaries had not affected the core of the right to receive a salary, which had remained intact and had not been rendered devoid. As a result, according to the court, the reduction had not constituted a deprivation or restriction, outside the parameters of Article 23. The applicants complain under Article 6 § 1 of the Convention that the principle of legal certainty had been breached as the Supreme Court in its 2020 judgment failed to follow established case-law, namely, Maria   Koutselini-Ioannidou v. The Republic of Cyprus, no. 740/2011 and others, (2014) 3 A.A.D. 361 (plenary judgment of 7 October 2014). The applicants further complain under Article 1 of Protocol No. 1 about the quality of Law 168(I)/2012 which they allege had not been foreseeable as it lacked explanations as to the necessity of its enactment, that the deprivation of part of their salary and/or pension had not had sufficient basis in the law as Article 23 of the Constitution did not allow for such restrictions, and that the impugned measures constituted an unjustified and arbitrary interference with their right to property under Article 1 of Protocol No. 1. QUESTIONS TO THE PARTIES 1.     Did the applicants have a fair hearing in the determination of their civil rights and obligations, in accordance with Article 6 § 1 of the Convention? In particular, having regard to the applicants’ complaint, was the principle of legal certainty complied with by the domestic courts (see for instance, Albu and Others v. Romania , nos. 34796/09 and 63 others, 10 May 2012)?   2.     Has there been an interference with the applicants’ peaceful enjoyment of possessions, within the meaning of Article 1 of Protocol No.   1, on account of the measures adopted by Law no. 168(I)/2012? If so, was the interference in accordance with domestic law, bearing also in mind that the protection of the right to property under Article 23 of the Constitution is wider than that provided for by Article 1 of Protocol No. 1? In addition, did the applicable domestic law meet the requirement of legal certainty and foreseeability? Did the interference pursue a legitimate aim and was it necessary in a democratic society?   3.     The parties are requested to verify the accuracy of the information and data provided in the appended Annex.   List of applicants Application no. 45101/20   No. Applicant’s Name Year of birth Nationality Place of residence 1. Soteris AVGOUSTIS 1946 Cypriot Nicosia 2. Elena AGISILAOU 1973 Cypriot Limassol 3. Fani ALAGIOTOU 1981 Cypriot Limassol 4. Ioulia ALEXIOU 1957 Cypriot Paphos 5. Andreas ANDREOU 1976 Cypriot Nicosia 6. Androniki ANDRONIKOU 1968 Cypriot Nicosia 7. Athos ANTHIMOU 1961 Cypriot Paphos 8. Andreas ANTONIOU 1947 Cypriot Nicosia 9. Andreas ANTONIOU 1965 Cypriot Nicosia 10. Christina ANTONIOU 1982 Cypriot Nicosia 11. Martha ARGYROU 1977 Cypriot Nicosia 12. Aristides ARISTIDOU 1978 Cypriot Nicosia 13. Charalambos ARISTODEMOU 1974 Cypriot Limassol 14. Christina ASIELIOTOU 1974 Cypriot Paphos 15. Andri CHARALAMBOUS 1978 Cypriot Nicosia 16. Elena CHARALAMBOUS 1982 Cypriot Paphos 17. Irini CHARALAMBOUS 1958 Cypriot Paphos 18. Maria CHARALAMBOUS 1951 Cypriot Nicosia 19. Maria CHARALAMBOUS 1984 Cypriot Nicosia 20. Maroulla CHARALAMBOUS 1963 Cypriot Paphos 21. Charalampos CHARALAMPOUS 1988 Cypriot Paphos 22. Margarita CHARI 1957 Cypriot Limassol 23. Androula CHRISTODOULOU 1952 Cypriot Paphos 24. Christakis CHRISTODOULOU 1952 Cypriot Paphos 25. Christos CHRISTODOULOU 1953 Cypriot Paphos 26. Christos CHRISTODOULOU 1955 Cypriot Nicosia 27. Constantia CHRISTODOULOU 1978 Cypriot Nicosia 28. Dinos CHRISTODOULOU 1953 Cypriot Larnaca 29. Katerina CHRISTODOULOU 1957 Cypriot Paphos 30. Marina CHRISTODOULOU 1963 Cypriot Paphos 31. Varvara CHRISTODOULOU 1959 Cypriot Paphos 32. Stylianos CHRISTOFI 1941 Cypriot Nicosia 33. Plastiras CHRISTOPHIDES 1937 Cypriot Nicosia 34. Chrisriana CHRISTOPHOROU 1974 Cypriot Nicosia 35. Antri CHRISTOU 1980 Cypriot Limassol 36. Georghios CHRISTOU 1976 Cypriot Paphos 37. Korina CHRISTOU 1978 Cypriot Limassol 38. Soteroula CHRISTOU 1962 Cypriot Nicosia 39. Chrystomos CHRYSOSTOMOU 1978 Cypriot Nicosia 40. Constantinos CHRYSOSTOMOU 1981 Cypriot Limassol 41. Christos CONSTANTINIDES 1943 Cypriot Paphos 42. Christos CONSTANTINIDES 1980 Cypriot Larnaca 43. Eleni CONSTANTINIDOU 1954 Cypriot Nicosia 44. Chrystalla CONSTANTINOU 1951 Cypriot Nicosia 45. Costakis CONSTANTINOU 1977 Cypriot Larnaca 46. Costas CONSTANTINOU 1957 Cypriot Nicosia 47. Georghios CONSTANTINOU 1951 Cypriot Paphos 48. Maria CONSTANTINOU 1965 Cypriot Nicosia 49. Soulla CONSTANTINOU 1976 Cypriot Paphos 50. Michael DEMETRIADES 1947 Cypriot Nicosia 51. Kyriaki DEMETRIADOU 1958 Cypriot Paphos 52. Andreas DEMETRIOU 1950 Cypriot Limassol 53. Demetris DEMETRIOU 1981 Cypriot Paphos 54. Ioanna DEMETRIOU 1979 Cypriot Larnaca 55. Eleni DEMETRIOU-ORPHANIDOU 1963 Cypriot Nicosia 56. Androulla DEMOSTHENOUS 1951 Cypriot Paphos 57. Demos DEMOSTHENOUS 1971 Cypriot Nicosia 58. Iordanes DEMOSTHENOUS 1950 Cypriot Paphos 59. Christina EFTHYMIOU 1983 Cypriot Limassol 60. Eleftherios ELEFTHERIOU 1960 Cypriot Nicosia 61. Eleftherios ELEFTHERIOU 1972 Cypriot Larnaca 62. Antonis EVRIPIDOU 1952 Cypriot Paphos 63. Demetris FILIPPOU 1955 Cypriot Paphos 64. Georghia FILIPPOU 1975 Cypriot Nicosia 65. Antonis FRAGKOUDIS 1976 Cypriot Larnaca 66. Tasoula GAVRIEL 1963 Cypriot Paphos 67. Elia GEORGAKI RALLI 1968 Cypriot Nicosia 68. Froso GEORGHIADES 1948 Cypriot Nicosia 69. Efi GEORGHIOU 1973 Cypriot Limassol 70. Georghios GEORGHIOU 1956 Cypriot Paphos 71. Georghios GEORGHIOU 1964 Cypriot Larnaca 72. Georghios GEORGHIOU 1973 Cypriot Nicosia 73. Phaedra GEORGHIOU 1958 Cypriot Nicosia 74. Xenia GLYKI - KOUALI 1961 Cypriot Paphos 75. Diogenis GREGORIOU 1959 Cypriot Nicosia 76. Kiki GRIVA 1957 Cypriot Nicosia 77. Andreas HADJIMARCOU 1943 Cypriot Nicosia 78. Glafkos HADJIPETROU 1945 Cypriot Nicosia 79. Anastasia HADJISAVVA 1962 Cypriot Paphos 80. Christos HADJITHEODOULOU 1969 Cypriot Larnaca 81. Ariadni IATROU 1969 Cypriot Paphos 82. Varnavas IERODIAKONOU 1966 Cypriot Nicosia 83. Georghios IOANNIDES 1947 Cypriot Nicosia 84. Miltos IOANNIDES 1975 Cypriot Limassol 85. Panos IOANNIDES 1949 Cypriot Nicosia 86. Antigoni IOANNIDOU 1947 Cypriot Nicosia 87. Andreas IOANNOU 1966 Cypriot Nicosia 88. Demetra IOANNOU 1968 Cypriot Nicosia 89. Andreas KAKOULLIS 1976 Cypriot Larnaca 90. Anna KALAPALIKI 1966 Cypriot Nicosia 91. Paraskevi KANNETI 1961 Cypriot Paphos 92. Aphrodite KANONISTI 1955 Cypriot Nicosia 93. Christakis KARACOSTA 1956 Cypriot Larnaca 94. Ermioni KAREKLA 1978 Cypriot Paphos 95. Nicolas KATTOS 1973 Cypriot Nicosia 96. Tasoulla KATTOU 1973 Cypriot Limassol 97. Efrosyni KELPI 1950 Cypriot Paphos 98. Maria KONSTANTINOU 1961 Cypriot Paphos 99. Sofoklils KOSTARI 1979 Cypriot Nicosia 100. Tzozefina KOULLAPI 1984 Cypriot Larnaca 101. Anthoullis KOUTSOFTAS 1973 Cypriot Nicosia 102. Maria KYPRIANOU 1962 Cypriot Nicosia 103. Andreas KYRIAKIDES 1949 Cypriot Nicosia 104. Christos KYRIAKIDES 1970 Cypriot Larnaca 105. Dora KYRIAKIDOU 1955 Cypriot Nicosia 106. Andreas KYRIAKOU 1978 Cypriot Nicosia 107. Andreas KYRIAKOU 1980 Cypriot Larnaca 108. Astero KYRIAKOU 1952 Cypriot Paphos 109. Marios KYRIAKOU 1974 Cypriot Larnaca 110. Popi KYRIAKOU 1980 Cypriot Nicosia 111. Androulla KYRILLOU - ANTONIOU 1954 Cypriot Paphos 112. Eleftheria LAMPROU 1962 Cypriot Paphos 113. Georghios LAZARIS 1982 Cypriot Nicosia 114. Eleni LEONIDOU 1961 Cypriot Paphos 115. Marina LEONIDOU 1952 Cypriot Nicosia 116. Yiannoulla LEONIDOU 1951 Cypriot Paphos 117. Androulla LEPTOU 1953 Cypriot Nicosia 118. Vassos LOIZOU 1960 Cypriot Nicosia 119. Andreas MAPPOURAS 1961 Cypriot Larnaca 120. Katerina MARKIDOU 1959 Cypriot Nicosia 121. Costas MATSOUKARIS 1936 Cypriot Nicosia 122. Georghios METAXAS 1960 Cypriot Paphos 123. Androulla MICHAEL 1957 Cypriot Nicosia 124. Efpraxia MICHAEL 1958 Cypriot Paphos 125. Xanthoula MICHAEL 1961 Cypriot Limassol 126. Charalampos MICHAELIDES 1954 Cypriot Paphos 127. Keti MICHAELIDOU 1968 Cypriot Nicosia 128. Maria MICHAELIDOU 1944 Cypriot Nicosia 129. Maria MICHAELIDOU 1977 Cypriot Nicosia 130. Kyriacos MOUTTAS 1980 Cypriot Nicosia 131. Yiannoulla NEOPHITOU 1966 Cypriot Paphos 132. Charalampos NICOLAIDES 1953 Cypriot Paphos 133. Christos NICOLAOU 1974 Cypriot Limassol 134. Katerina NICOLAOU 1957 Cypriot Paphos 135. Maria NICOLAOU 1963 Cypriot Nicosia 136. Maria NIKITA-NATHANAEL 1967 Cypriot Larnaca 137. Michael NISIOTIS 1931 Cypriot Nicosia 138. Andreas PALLARIS 1971 Cypriot Larnaca 139. Katerina PANAGIOTOU 1954 Cypriot Nicosia 140. Chrysoula PANAYIOTOU 1959 Cypriot Paphos 141. Kyriakos PANTELI 1977 Cypriot Larnaca 142. Marina PANTELI 1975 Cypriot Limassol 143. Anthi PAPADOPOULOU 1948 Cypriot Limassol 144. Constantinos PAPANICOLAOU 1945 Cypriot Paphos 145. Michael PAPASTAVROU 1978 Cypriot Nicosia 146. Loucas PAPETTAS 1984 Cypriot Larnaca 147. Periklis PERIKLEOUS 1944 Cypriot Nicosia 148. Argyrios PETRAKOS 1982 Cypriot Larnaca 149. Christos PETRIDES 1972 Cypriot Nicosia 150. Stelios PETROU 1952 Cypriot Nicosia 151. Theodora PETSA 1947 Cypriot Nicosia 152. Irene PIERI 1959 Cypriot Nicosia 153. Maria PIERI 1964 Cypriot Paphos 154. Yianna POLYVIOU 1983 Cypriot Nicosia 155. Erinoula POSPORIDOU 1966 Cypriot Larnaca 156. Panikos POUROS 1948 Cypriot Nicosia 157. Ioannis POUXIOS 1973 Cypriot Nicosia 158. Andreas POYIADJIS 1947 Cypriot Nicosia 159. Dimos POYIADJIS 1944 Cypriot Nicosia 160. Ioanna SAVVA 1983 Cypriot Paphos 161. Stavros SAVVIDES 1969 Cypriot Larnaca 162. Chrystalla SAVVIDOU 1970 Cypriot Larnaca 163. Renos SERGHIDES 1957 Cypriot Nicosia 164. Panagiotis SERGIOU 1981 Cypriot Nicosia 165. Olympiada SKAROU 1952 Cypriot Paphos 166. Zoe SOTERIOU 1952 Cypriot Nicosia 167. Alecos STAVROU 1966 Cypriot Nicosia 168. Stavros STAVROU 1968 Cypriot Nicosia 169. Alexandra STYLIANOU 1956 Cypriot Paphos 170. Andreas STYLIANOU 1967 Cypriot Paphos 171. Christakis STYLIANOU 1959 Cypriot Larnaca 172. Nicos STYLIANOU 1951 Cypriot Paphos 173. Stelios STYLIANOU 1953 Cypriot Paphos 174. Panayiota-Nayia SYMEONIDOU 1966 Cypriot Nicosia 175. Kyriaki TALIOTOU 1954 Cypriot Paphos 176. Angeliki TAPAKOUDI 1947 Cypriot Nicosia 177. Christakis TAPAKOUDIS 1947 Cypriot Nicosia 178. Maroulla TATTARI 1954 Cypriot Paphos 179. Christina THEODOROU 1982 Cypriot Paphos 180. Marianna THEODOROU 1954 Cypriot Paphos 181. Georgios TZIORTZIS 1967 Cypriot Nicosia 182. Charalambos ZACHARIOU 1972 Cypriot Larnaca 183. Maria ZACHARIOU-DODOU 1946 Cypriot Nicosia 184. Nicolas ZAKOS 1974 Cypriot Nicosia 185. Paraskevi ZENIOU-EVANGELI 1945 Cypriot Nicosia 186. Ioannis ZEVLARIS 1959 Cypriot Nicosia