European Court of Human Rights

THIRD SECTION

DECISION

Application no. 18515/07
Alexander HORVÁTH
against Slovakia

The European Court of Human Rights (Third Section), sitting on 11 October 2011 as a Committee composed of:

Ineta Ziemele, President,
Ján Šikuta,
Kristina Pardalos, judges,
and Marialena Tsirli, Deputy Section Registrar,

Having regard to the above application lodged on 16 April 2007,

Having deliberated, decides as follows:

THE FACTS

The applicant, Mr Alexander Horváth, is a Slovak national who was born in 1967 and lives in Komárno. The Government of the Slovak Republic (“the Government”) were represented by their Agent, Ms M. Pirošíková.

The applicant complained under Article 5 § 1 of the Convention about the alleged unlawfulness of his detention on remand. The applicant’s complaint was communicated to the Government.

In a letter of 18 April 2011 the Court informed the applicant of the notification of the application to the respondent Government and asked him to submit a form of authority by 16 May 2011.

The envelope was returned to the sender as it had not been received by the addressee. Separately, the same letter was sent to the other address indicated in the documents submitted by the applicant. It was returned to the Court’s Registry with the remark that its receipt had been refused.

By letter dated 20 July 2011, sent by registered post, the applicant was asked, in view of the above facts, to inform the Court before 10 August 2011 whether he intended to pursue the application and, if so, indicate the address to which further correspondence should be addressed. The applicant’s attention was drawn to Article 37 § 1 (a) of the Convention, which provides that the Court may strike a case out of its list of cases where the circumstances lead to the conclusion that the applicant does not intend to pursue the application.

The applicant received this letter on 12 August 2011. However, no response has been received.

THE LAW

The Court considers that, in these circumstances, the applicant may be regarded as no longer wishing to pursue his application, within the meaning of Article 37 § 1 (a) of the Convention. Furthermore, in accordance with Article 37 § 1 in fine, the Court finds no special circumstances regarding respect for human rights as defined in the Convention and its Protocols which require the continued examination of the case.

In view of the above, it is appropriate to strike the case out of the list.

For these reasons, the Court unanimously

Decides to strike the application out of its list of cases.

Marialena Tsirli Ineta Ziemele
Deputy Registrar President