European Court of Human Rights (ECHR): Application Against Ukraine, Case Law and Legal Representation
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What we offer
- We advise whether you can apply to the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) and which steps should be taken first.
- We review court decisions, evidence, and domestic remedies used, and identify admissibility risks and the application deadline.
- We prepare a written opinion on the prospects of the case and the recommended course of action.
- We develop a legal position under the Convention and identify ECtHR case law relevant to your case.
- We complete the application form, prepare the list of attachments, and assemble the evidence package.
- Before dispatch, we check that the form is complete and that the required signatures and authority to act are in place. We can also separately review a form and attachments you have completed yourself.
- We arrange postal filing and retain proof of dispatch and delivery.
- On separately agreed terms, we represent the applicant, handle correspondence from the Court, and monitor the case's status.
- After the application has been communicated to the respondent State, we prepare replies, claims for just satisfaction, and other procedural documents within the agreed scope.
- We assist with the enforcement of an ECtHR judgment in Ukraine: filing an application with the State Enforcement Service for payment of compensation, monitoring the payment deadline, and seeking additional individual measures, including the reopening of proceedings (Articles 7, 8, and 10 of Law No. 3477-IV).
How we prepare an application to the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) is explained in detail on our service page.
Documents Required for Case Assessment and Preparation of an ECtHR Application
When Should You Apply to the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR)?
You lost a case in Ukraine or never obtained protection of your rights, and you are considering the European Court of Human Rights. An application is worth considering when the issue is not simply an unfavorable decision, but the State's failure to provide fair proceedings or adequate protection of your rights.
The ECtHR examines complaints alleging violations of rights protected by the Convention and its Protocols for which a State is responsible. Disagreement with the assessment of evidence or the amount of a fine does not, by itself, establish a violation of the Convention. You must identify which right was violated, how the violation occurred, and what evidence supports it.
An application may be lodged by any person, nongovernmental organization, or group of individuals claiming to be the victim of such a violation. Private legal entities may also apply when their own rights are affected. For businesses, these include, in particular, property rights and the right to a fair hearing.
During the consultation, we determine whether your circumstances could form the basis of an ECtHR application, whether the relevant provisions of the Convention apply, and which documents are needed for a reasoned assessment.
Situations Our Clients Come to Us With
Below are examples of situations we can assess. We agree on preparing an ECtHR application or complaint after reviewing the documents, the time limit, and the admissibility requirements.
- A court failed to address a decisive argument or refused access to important evidence. We assess whether this affected the fairness of the proceedings as a whole, rather than merely their outcome.
- Civil or criminal proceedings have lasted excessively long. We consider the overall duration, the case's complexity, the conduct of the parties, and the available remedies.
- A public authority imposed a substantial financial penalty on a company, and appeals in Ukraine did not resolve the issue. We assess property-rights protections and whether the right to a fair hearing applies to the dispute.
- The State seized property or restricted its use. We examine the lawfulness of the interference, its purpose, and the proportionality of the burden imposed on the applicant.
- A person was arrested or detained without adequate justification or an effective means of challenging the deprivation of liberty. We examine the grounds and procedure.
- There are allegations of torture, inhuman treatment, or improper conditions of detention, and appeals to the authorities did not provide protection. We assess evidence of the treatment and the State's response.
- Public authorities interfered with private or family life, the home, or correspondence. We examine the legal basis, necessity, and procedural safeguards for the interference.
The Court's case law can help establish whether your situation resembles cases it has already examined.
ECHR Judgments and Case Law: What Cases the Court Hears
Judgments of the European Court of Human Rights concern complaints alleging violations by a State of rights guaranteed by the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and its Protocols.
What Cases Does the European Court of Human Rights Hear?
The complaint is brought against the State, not the opposing party in a dispute: for example, concerning a court that took years to hear the case, a judgment that was never enforced, unlawful detention, or ill-treatment in custody.
The Court is not another appellate court: it does not reassess evidence from scratch or overturn decisions of Ukrainian courts. It does not hear complaints against private individuals or companies, concerning events before the Convention entered into force for Ukraine, or concerning rights not protected by the Convention (for example, an entitlement to a particular pension or position as such). The Court determines whether the State violated the Convention.
If the Court finds a violation, it may award just satisfaction—monetary compensation for pecuniary and non-pecuniary damage and reimbursement of legal costs and expenses (Article 41 of the Convention). The Court decides whether to make an award and in what amount; the corresponding claims must be submitted within the deadline it sets.
ECtHR Case Law by Category
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Category |
What the Court Assesses |
Example Judgment Against Ukraine |
|---|---|---|
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Fair trial (Article 6) |
The court's independence and impartiality, equality of arms, and the reasoning of its decision |
Oleksandr Volkov v. Ukraine, application no. 21722/11, judgment of January 9, 2013 — violations of Articles 6 and 8 in connection with the dismissal of a judge |
|
Length of proceedings (Article 6) |
Whether the case was heard within a reasonable time in light of its complexity and the conduct of the parties and authorities |
Svetlana Naumenko v. Ukraine, no. 41984/98, judgment of November 9, 2004 |
|
Non-enforcement of judgments and property rights (Article 6; Article 1 of Protocol No. 1) |
Whether the State enforced a final judgment in your favor and whether any interference with property was lawful and proportionate |
Yuriy Nikolayevich Ivanov v. Ukraine, no. 40450/04, judgment of October 15, 2009; Sovtransavto Holding v. Ukraine, no. 48553/99, judgment of July 25, 2002 |
|
Liberty and detention (Article 5) |
Lawfulness of detention, justification for detention and its duration, and judicial oversight |
Kharchenko v. Ukraine, no. 40107/02, judgment of February 10, 2011 |
|
Treatment and conditions of detention (Article 3) |
Torture, inhuman or degrading treatment; medical care and conditions in custody |
Nevmerzhitsky v. Ukraine, no. 54825/00, judgment of April 5, 2005 |
|
Private and family life (Article 8) |
Interference with private life, the home, correspondence, or professional life—whether it was prescribed by law and necessary |
Oleksandr Volkov v. Ukraine, no. 21722/11, judgment of January 9, 2013 |
|
Peaceful assembly (Article 11) |
Whether restrictions on assembly were prescribed by law and necessary |
Vyerentsov v. Ukraine, no. 20372/11, judgment of April 11, 2013 |
ECHR Judgments Against Ukraine
According to HUDOC (as of October 21, 2026, 2,403 judgments against Ukraine in English), the Court most frequently found violations of Article 6—the right to a fair trial, particularly concerning lengthy proceedings and non-enforcement of judgments (over 1,300 judgments); Article 3—the prohibition of torture and ill-treatment (approximately 1,200); Article 13—the right to an effective remedy (approximately 680); and Article 5—the right to liberty (approximately 500).
Non-enforcement of domestic court judgments was so widespread that, in Burmych and Others v. Ukraine (no. 46852/13 and others, judgment of October 12, 2017), the Court struck thousands of similar applications from its list and referred them to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe for resolution in the context of implementing the pilot judgment in Yuriy Nikolayevich Ivanov v. Ukraine.
Who enforces judgments? A final judgment is binding on the State (Article 46 of the Convention), and its execution is supervised by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. In Ukraine, the procedure is governed by the Law “On the Fulfillment of Decisions and Application of Practice of the European Court of Human Rights”. The Government Agent before the ECtHR at the Ministry of Justice represents the State and coordinates enforcement.
Awarded compensation is paid through the State Enforcement Service within three months from the date the judgment becomes final, or within the period specified in the judgment (Article 8 of the Law). In addition to payment, the State takes further individual measures, including reopening the case, and general measures to prevent similar violations (Articles 10 and 13 of the Law).
How to Find an ECHR Judgment
The official case-law database is HUDOC. You can search by case name (using the Latin-alphabet spelling used by the Court, such as “Ivanov v. Ukraine”), application number, respondent State, Convention Article, and date; the language filter shows available translations, including Ukrainian versions. The Ministry of Justice publishes official translations of judgments against Ukraine, which are also available at zakon.rada.gov.ua. You can check the status of a filed application by its number using the Court’s State of Proceedings service.
A judgment in a similar case shows how the Court reasons, but it does not mean your application will be declared admissible: the Court considers the deadline, exhaustion of domestic remedies, your victim status, and the particular circumstances of your case. We assess these issues during a consultation or written case review (Packages 1 and 2).
How to Apply to the European Court of Human Rights: Step by Step
An application to the European Court of Human Rights involves six steps. Preparing the complaints to the ECHR is only the third step: first, we check the deadline and assess the case.
- Initial check. The final decision and proof of the date it was received are reviewed to identify the deadline and urgent steps.
- Case assessment. Admissibility requirements, domestic remedies used, and the time limit. A written opinion identifies potentially substantiated complaints, risks, missing material, and the recommended strategy.
- Preparing the application. The current official application form (sections A–I), additional explanations, and copies of supporting evidence.
- Pre-filing review. The form, signatures, representative's authority, and attachments.
- Filing. We mail the complete signed package and retain a copy, the postal receipt, and delivery confirmation.
- After filing. The Court registers the application, provides its number, and requests clarification if necessary. The application is then examined by a single judge, a committee, or a Chamber. If a single judge declares it inadmissible, the decision is final and cannot be appealed. If the application has prospects, the Court communicates it to the Government of Ukraine: the State submits written observations, and the applicant replies and presents claims for just satisfaction.
At this stage, the Court may propose a friendly settlement, while the State may submit a unilateral declaration acknowledging the violation. The Court then rules on admissibility and the merits. Subject to separately agreed terms, we handle representation and correspondence with the Court during these stages.
Below we explain each stage leading up to filing in more detail.
Time Limit for an ECHR Application
The general time limit is four months from the final decision reached through an effective remedy. The date on which the applicant or representative received the decision may be decisive. We therefore verify the start and end of the period against the documents: waiting for an additional response or preparing the application form does not, by itself, stop the clock.
The deadline is met only if a fully completed and signed application form with copies of the documents is dispatched within the four-month period (Rule 47 of the Rules of Court). An incomplete application does not stop the time limit from running.
Case Assessment: What You Receive
First, we check the admissibility requirements, domestic remedies used, and evidence establishing the deadline. We identify which rights under the Convention may have been violated and which documents substantiate the allegations.
The Court will examine an application on the merits only if it satisfies the admissibility requirements (Articles 34 and 35 of the Convention):
- Time limit. The application was submitted within four months of the final domestic decision.
- Exhaustion of domestic remedies. You have used effective remedies in Ukraine, including court appeals.
- You are the victim. The alleged violation concerns you personally, not other people or society in general.
- Complaint against the State. The violation was committed by State bodies, or the State is responsible for it, and it occurred after the Convention entered into force for Ukraine.
- Right protected by the Convention. You allege a violation of a right guaranteed by the Convention or its Protocols.
- Substantiated complaint and significant disadvantage. The application is not manifestly ill-founded, and the applicant has suffered a significant disadvantage.
- New and properly completed application. It does not repeat an application already examined without new facts, does not constitute an abuse of the right of application, and is lodged using a complete, signed form (Rule 47 of the Rules of Court).
Exhausting domestic remedies does not mean pursuing every procedure available under national law. We identify the remedies that were available and effective for your particular complaint and check whether you raised the issue in Ukraine.
We then compare your arguments with the Convention, the evidence, and the Court's case law. After the assessment, you receive a written opinion identifying which complaints may be substantiated, where inadmissibility risks arise, what is missing, and which course of action we recommend. If there are no convincing grounds, we explain this before you order preparation of the form.
Preparing an Application to the ECHR: Form and Evidence
We use the Court's current official application form. Our sample completed ECtHR application form shows how to fill it out: it is an instructional example with fictional details and explanations for sections A–I. It helps show how to present the case, but it is not an official completed form ready for filing.
In the application form, we set out the facts, complaints, and information showing compliance with admissibility requirements. Additional explanations can develop the arguments but cannot replace the mandatory sections of the form:
- A–D — applicant and representative details;
- E — facts;
- F — complaints under the Convention;
- G — domestic remedies and time limits;
- H — other international proceedings and previous ECtHR applications;
- I — attachments.
We also check the date, signatures, and designated recipient for correspondence.
We assemble a package of copies, organize the documents, and verify that each material argument is supported by specific evidence. Before filing, we again check the form, signatures, representative's authority, and attachments. The initial application may be prepared in Ukrainian; whether translation will be needed later depends on the stage of the proceedings and the Court's requirements.
After the Court communicates the application to the Government, correspondence is conducted in English or French—the Court's official languages—unless the President of the Chamber permits continued use of Ukrainian (Rule 34 of the Rules of Court).
Filing and Representation: ECHR Lawyer
We mail the complete signed package to the Registry of the Court in Strasbourg, France. We retain copies of the materials sent, the postal receipt, and proof of delivery. The Court may conduct subsequent correspondence electronically through eComms if the representative has provided an email address. Receipt of the package by the Court does not mean the application has been declared admissible or that a violation has been found.
If you engage us for representation, a lawyer appearing before the European Court of Human Rights will act within the authority agreed with you. We agree in advance on that authority, the correspondence address, and subsequent work on the case. The representative named in the form must actually communicate with the Court. Before accepting such an engagement, we therefore establish who will receive notices, monitor deadlines, and respond to the Court's requests.
Practical Experience: How a Business's Legal Strategy Changed
We have worked on European Court of Human Rights cases since 2011 and have filed more than 300 applications—all registered and examined by the Court. Below is one recent case: its outcome had not yet been confirmed when this text was prepared. It illustrates why the legal strategy should be assessed before preparing the application form.
A private company approached us after receiving a substantial administrative fine. Initially, the client considered seeking review of the domestic decision on newly discovered circumstances. After analyzing the materials, we identified risks with that route and agreed with the client to prioritize an ECtHR application.
We had to compare the domestic decisions with technical documents and correspondence concerning automated reporting. The final package contained the application form, additional explanations, and 179 pages of evidence. This example illustrates why the fee depends on the scope of legal analysis and review of evidence, rather than simply on filling out a form.
The package was sent, and delivery was confirmed. We discussed monitoring the case's status after assignment of its number with the client separately—this is a subsequent scope of work that must be agreed independently.
Service packages offers
For purchasing a ready-made LLC or an ownership interest in a company without significant assets.
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Review of the company, its owners, and ultimate beneficial owners (UBOs) using the Unified State Register (USR), including the history of registration actions.
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Review of the charter and participants’ resolutions.
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Review of the seller and the ownership interest: whether the interest is paid up, whether it is subject to attachment or pledge, and which consents are required.
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Court cases, enforcement proceedings, tax debt, and sanctions.
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Brief written findings.
Package scope: does not include an analysis of contracts, assets, employees, or tax risks. The price applies to one company with up to two participants and no real estate; the price increases for each additional participant that is a legal entity.
For purchasing an operating business, an ownership interest in a company with assets, or entering a company as an investor.
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Everything included in the Express Review package.
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Assets and encumbrances, including tax liens.
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An agreed list of key contracts: leases, loans, suretyship agreements, and change-of-ownership provisions.
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Licenses and permits covering the company’s actual activities and locations.
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Employees and outstanding wages.
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Tax risks.
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Trademarks, domain names, the website, and software.
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Assessment of whether approval from the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine is required.
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A written report setting out risks and recommendations for the transaction agreement, plus one meeting to explain the findings.
Package scope: the number of contracts and assets to be reviewed is agreed at the outset. Business valuation, financial statement audits, technical expert assessments, drafting the agreement, and registering changes are not included. The price applies to one company with up to five key contracts and two real estate properties; the price increases for each additional contract or property.
For an owner preparing a company for sale.
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Review of the company across the same areas covered by due diligence.
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Corrective action plan: what to address before the sale and in what order.
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A document list and document package for the buyer.
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Answers to common questions from the buyer.
Package scope: transaction support is charged separately. The price applies to one company with up to five key contracts and two real estate properties. Corrective work—including drafting resolutions and contracts and handling registration actions—is priced separately.
For a buyer or seller who already understands the risks and is ready to sign.
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An agreement for the sale and purchase of an ownership interest with protective provisions: the seller’s representations, payment terms, and conditions to be met before signing.
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A deed of acceptance and transfer of the ownership interest and participants’ resolutions.
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Support during notarization.
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Registration of changes in the Unified State Register (USR).
Package scope: an agreement for the purchase and sale of an enterprise as a single property complex is priced separately. The price applies to one transaction involving an ownership interest in one LLC; government fees and notary charges are paid separately.
How Much Does an ECtHR Application Cost? Fees by Stage
You can order the work in stages: a consultation, written case assessment, application-form preparation, or filing with representation. There is also a separate package for reviewing a completed application form. Long-term case-status monitoring and subsequent procedural documents are agreed separately. Each option's scope and price are listed in the service packages.
Before work begins, we specify exactly what you will receive: an oral consultation, written opinion, completed application package, or representation support. We record the scope, deadlines, price, and process for additional orders in the contract.
The fee depends on the number and complexity of complaints, volume of materials, condition of the evidence, need to collect additional documents, and urgency. If another lawyer prepared the case, a separate review of the completed package may first be necessary.
Other Expenses
The ECtHR does not charge a court fee for an individual application. Separate expenses may include international delivery, printing and copying a large package, translations, obtaining documents, and work by outside experts. We agree on the need for and budget of such expenses in advance.
The Court may award reimbursement of costs and expenses where a claim is properly submitted and supported by evidence. Full reimbursement of legal fees paid is not guaranteed.
Why us
Our clients
Check the Deadline at the Outset
Do not wait until you have prepared every copy—contact a lawyer immediately. For an initial assessment, send the final decision and proof of receipt. Waiting for a response to an additional submission does not necessarily suspend or restart the ECtHR time limit.
A Prepared Package Does Not Guarantee Admissibility
A complete form and compliance with admissibility criteria are separate issues. We check both, but the Court makes the final decision.
Case-Status Monitoring and the Representative's Role
Periodic checks of publicly available application-status information do not replace receiving and promptly handling official correspondence. If the lawyer remains your representative, arrangements for monitoring notices and responding to them must operate for as long as that authority remains in effect.
The Court determines the length of the proceedings, which depends on the issues raised and the priority assigned to the case. An application declared inadmissible by a single judge is dealt with more quickly than a case communicated to the Government, where the parties' exchange of observations usually takes years. Three or five years may be an agreed term of service, but not a promise that the proceedings will be completed. When the paid term ends, an extension must be agreed or responsibility for the case properly transferred.
Answers to frequently asked questions
Can I Order Only an Assessment of the Case's Prospects?
Yes. Following the assessment, you receive a written opinion on possible complaints, the deadline, risks, and recommended legal strategy. You do not have to order preparation of the application form afterward.
Do I Need a Lawyer to File the Initial Application?
You may submit the initial application yourself. Once the application has been communicated to the State, representation by someone meeting the Court's requirements is generally required unless otherwise permitted. We can assist with both preparation and subsequent proceedings.
Where Can I Download the ECtHR Application Form and See a Completed Example?
The Court publishes the current official application form on its website. Step-by-step explanations and an instructional sample help clarify the structure but do not replace an assessment of your own circumstances. An initial application can be submitted in Ukrainian; translating the entire package into English is not a general requirement at this stage.
Can You Help if the Application Form Is Already Prepared?
Yes. We offer a separate review package for a completed form. We check completion, signatures and authority to act, attachments, proof of the deadline, and consistency of the arguments. You receive written comments and a list of corrections. A full case assessment and preparation of a new form are agreed separately.
What Is the Deadline for Applying to the ECtHR?
Generally, four months from the final decision reached through an effective domestic remedy. For a particular case, we check which decision is final, when the applicant or representative was duly notified of it, and whether any special rules govern the start of the period. You should not rely solely on the date printed on the decision.
How to Start Working With Us
Send the final decision, information about when it was received, and a brief explanation of which right you believe was violated. If you have already applied to the ECtHR, include the application number and the Court's correspondence. These materials will help us identify the appropriate initial scope of work and any urgent steps.
If the case documents are held in different places, tell us who has them. That will allow us to plan evidence collection and avoid requesting again documents you already have.
To arrange a consultation or case assessment, submit a request on our website or call us.
