CEDH · PRESS;HEARINGS;ENG — 31 mai 2001

.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 } .s32563E28 { margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt } .s4DDA3AA3 { font-family:Arial; font-weight:bold; font-style:italic } .sD35C6159 { width:1.54pt; display:inline-block } .sF9A986A5 { width:12.2pt; display:inline-block } .sCB27B9E { width:16.66pt; display:inline-block } .sC5412BEF { width:51.05pt; display:inline-block } .sA36B60A1 { font-family:Arial; font-style:italic } EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS       388   31.5.2001   Press release issued by the Registrar   HEARING IN THE CASE OF SOLAKOV v. THE FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA   Thursday 31 May 2001 at 9 a.m.   The applicant   The case concerns an application brought by a Macedonian/Bulgarian national, Blagoja Solakov, who was born in Hadjidimovo and lives in Skopje, “the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia”.   Summary of the facts   On 30 September 1997 the applicant was arrested on charges of smuggling around 10.5 kg of drugs from Bulgaria and “the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia” to the United States and of setting up an international drug-trafficking network.   The investigating judge and the prosecution authorities heard five witnesses who were serving prison sentence in the United States. The applicant’s lawyers, although summoned, did not attend the interrogation: The applicant’s first lawyer was not issued with a visa, however, he was informed that a visa might be issued once he had supplied all the relevant documents. The applicant’s second lawyer allegedly told the courts he was unable to pay the travel expenses and that there was no need to be present.   At the public hearing before the Skopje Municipal Court the statements of the witnesses in prison in the United States were read out. On 26 January 1998 the court found the applicant guilty of drug trafficking. On 6 March and 2 July 1998 the applicant’s appeal and appeal on points of law were dismissed by the Skopje Appellate Court and the Supreme Court, respectively.   Complaints   The applicant complains that his rights guaranteed by Article 6 §§ 1 and 3(d) (right to a fair trial) of the European Convention on Human Rights were violated in that he could not cross-examine the witnesses whose statements served as the basis for his conviction or have witnesses on his behalf examined.   Procedure   The application was lodged with the European Court of Human Rights on 3 December 1998 and declared admissible on 25 January 2001.   Composition of the Court   The case will be heard by a Chamber composed of seven judges:   Christos Rozakis (Greek), President , András Baka (Hungarian), Giovanni Bonello (Maltese), Peer Lorenzen (Danish), Margarita Tsatsa-Nikolovska (FYROMacedonia), Egils Levits (Latvian), Anatoly Kovler (Russian), judges , Viera Strážnická (Slovakian), Marc Fischbach (Luxemburger), Vladimiro Zagrebelsky (Italy), substitute judges ,   and also Erik Fribergh , Section Registrar .   Representatives of the parties   Government:   Radica Lazareska-Geroska , Agent ,   Gordan Kalajdziev , Adviser ;   Applicants:   Mielle Nichols and Didier Matray , Counsel .   ***   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.