ECHR: protracted proceedings in Poland a systemic issue

The European Court of Human Rights adjudicated on Tuesday that protracted trials in Poland are a systemic issue. The body of the Council of Europe looked into three separate cases, in which proceedings lasted respectively eight, eleven, and fourteen years. Only one of the plaintiffs received compensation: PLN 2000. The ECHR decided that Poland has to pay redresses from €8800 to €10000 to each of the plaintiffs, as well as return them process costs. Irmina Pacho, a lawyer of the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights, stated: "The court acknowledged that the transgression emerged from the practice in Poland, which is contradictory to the standards developed by the ECHR." Almost 600 grievances from Poland still remain in the ECHR waiting for a review process. As this is a pilot verdict, it obligates Poland to take further steps to ensure that the practice of domestic courts is consistent with the European Convention on Human Rights.