CEDH · PRESS;HEARINGS;ENG — 23 mai 2000

.s800EAC49 { font-size:12pt } .sFE10DC93 { margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-align:center } .s29100277 { font-family:Arial; font-weight:bold } .sA1D3DA2E { margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-align:justify } .s94935B0F { width:389.85pt; display:inline-block } .sBB9EE52A { font-family:Arial } .s2E932ED2 { margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:11pt } .s76CF415B { page-break-before:always; clear:both } .s32563E28 { margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt } .s4DDA3AA3 { font-family:Arial; font-weight:bold; font-style:italic } .s7ED160F0 { text-decoration:none } .s33165EBA { font-family:Arial; font-size:8pt; vertical-align:super; color:#0069d6 } .sD086E7B5 { margin-top:0pt; margin-left:70.9pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:-70.9pt } .sB54F21D0 { width:1.54pt; text-indent:0pt; display:inline-block } .s38DD6A04 { width:18.2pt; display:inline-block } .sA36B60A1 { font-family:Arial; font-style:italic } .sCB27B9E { width:16.66pt; display:inline-block } .sC5412BEF { width:51.05pt; display:inline-block } .sF6A12959 { width:33%; height:1px; text-align:left } .s2EB42ED2 { margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt } .s653E6C45 { font-family:Arial; font-size:6.67pt; vertical-align:super; color:#0069d6 } EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS     367   23.5.2000   Press release issued by the Registrar   HEARING IN THE CASE OF ZWIERZYNSKI v. POLAND   Tuesday, 23 May 2000, at 9.30 a.m.     The applicant   The case concerns an application brought by a Polish national, Ryszard Zwierzynski, who was born in 1949 and lives in Olsztyn. He is a doctor.   Summary of the facts   In 1952 a building belonging to the applicant’s father was expropriated in the public interest. He sought restitution of the property and after his death his heirs, including the applicant, continued that action. Finally, on 24 July 1992, the Minister for Economic Affairs declared the expropriation procedure in 1952 null and void. On 23 November 1993 the Administrative Court upheld the Minister’s annulment decision. As a result, the applicant became the owner of the building retrospectively.   However, the administrative decision restoring ownership of the building to the applicant has yet to be executed on account of proceedings brought by the present occupier (the Police Authority). Initially, the Police Authority brought an action seeking title to the property through adverse possession. Those proceedings are currently pending, the Supreme Court having quashed an earlier decision.   The Police Authority also informed the heirs of the pre-Second World War owner of the property that there was an action concerning the division of the estate. Considering that they had rights over the building, the heirs of the former owner took steps to reopen those proceedings, but their application was dismissed. They appealed on points of law to the Supreme Court.     Complaints   The applicant relies on Article 6 § 1 of the European Convention on Human Rights, alleging that his case has not been heard within a reasonable time. He further alleges a violation of Article 1 of Protocol No. 1 (protection of property), in that his right of property was infringed following unfair proceedings.   Procedure   The application was lodged with the European Commission of Human Rights on 15 July 1996. The case was brought before the Court on 1 November 1998. It was assigned to the First Section which decided on 1 February 2000 to hold a hearing concerning the admissibility and merits of the case.   Composition of the Court   The case will be heard by a Chamber composed as follows:]   Elisabeth Palm (Swedish), President , Wilhelmina Thomassen (Dutch), Jerzy Makarczyk (Polish), Riza Türmen (Turkish), Corneliu Bîrsan (Romanian), Josep Casadevall (Andorran), Rait Maruste (Estonian), judges , Gaukur Jörundsson (Icelandic), Luigi Ferrari Bravo [1] (Italian), Boštjan Zupančič (Slovenian), Tudor Panţîru (Moldovan), substitute judges ,   and also Michael O’Boyle , Section Registrar .   Representatives of the parties   Government:   Krzysztof Drzewicki , Agent , Andrzej Kalinski and Renata Kowalska , Counsel , Jerzy Geisler , Adviser ;   Applicant:   Agnieszka Zemke , Counsel, Ewa Moroz-Ustymowivcz, Adviser. .     After the hearing the Court will begin its deliberations, which are held in private. Judgment will be delivered at a later date.   Registry of the European Court of Human Rights F – 67075 Strasbourg Cedex Contacts:   Roderick Liddell (telephone: (0)3 88 41 24 92)   Emma Hellyer (telephone: (0)3 90 21 42 15) Fax: (0)3 88 41 27 91   The European Court of Human Rights was set up in Strasbourg in 1959 to deal with alleged violations of the 1950 European Convention on Human Rights. On 1 November 1998 a full-time Court was established, replacing the original two-tier system of a part-time Commission and Court. [1] Judge elected in respect of San Marino.