2008-01-28/20:32 Moldova lost the largest number of cases at the European Court of Human Rights per capita in 2007, exceeding the general average over ten times, according to the ECHR’s official statistics, quoted by Info-Prim Neo.

Last year, Moldova lost 59 cases in the ECHR. This is one case per 57,000 inhabitants (except the population from the left bank of the Nistru), as opposed to the general average of one case to about 600,000 residents.

In an interview for Info-Prim Neo late last year, the Governmental Agent Vladimir Grosu said that the situation in Moldova (regarding the number of convictions at the ECHR e.n) can be compared with the situation in such states as Russia, Ukraine, Romania, Bulgaria, and Poland owing to the much similar historical context.

According to the European Court’s statistics, last year Russia was found guilty in 175 cases, which, for a population of about 142 million, is one case to 800,000 inhabitants. Ukraine lost 108 cases and the ratio was one case to 425,000 residents. Romania was found guilty in 88 cases and the ratio was, respectively, one case to 250,000 people. Turkey lost the largest number of cases in 2007 – 319. But the ratio was one case lost per 220,000 people as it has a population of 70,500 million.

In 2007, the ECHR passed 1,349 judgments of conviction, which is 28.7 convictions for every member state. Such states as Ireland, Andorra and Monaco lost no case. The CIS states Armenia and Georgia, which have a population comparable to Moldova’s, were found guilty in five and, respectively, four cases.

In most of the cases lost by Moldova in 2007, the Court found violations of the right to a fair hearing – 34, the right to protection of property – 29, the right to freedom and safety – 27. Also, Moldova was punished for violating the right to free expression in seven cases.

To date, Moldova lost over 100 cases at the ECHR. It was obliged to pay damages totalling about 2 million euros. Experts say that the number of convictions at the ECHR will continue to rise. In 2008, the Court in Strasbourg will pronounce decisions in the cases of Unistar Ventures, Dacia Hotel, Megadat.com and others. The damages in these cases are expected to reach records of millions of euros that will be paid from the state budget.