RAMADHI AND 5 OTHERS v. ALBANIA - 38222/02

This judgment will become final in the circumstances set out in Article 44 § 2 of the Convention. It may be subject to editorial revision.

The European Court of Human Rights (Fourth Section), sitting as a Chamber composed of:

Mr J. Casadevall, President, Mr G. Bonello, Mr K. Traja, Mr L. Garlicki, Ms L. Mijović, Mr J. Šikuta, Mrs P. Hirvelä, judges, and Mr T.L. Early, Section Registrar ,

The case originated in an application (no. 38222/02) against the Republic of Albania lodged with the Court under Article 34 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (“the Convention”) by six Albanian nationals, Mr Shyqyri Ramadhi, Mr Remzi Kapidani, Mrs Rabije Ramadhi, Mrs Xhemile Ramadhi, Mr Dilaver Ramadhi and Mr Nakib Ramadhi (“the applicants”), on 9 October 2002. On 1 July 2005, following Mrs Xhemile Ramadhi's death, her daughter, Mrs Shpresa Idrizi, took her place in the proceedings before the Court.

The applicants, who had been granted legal aid, were represented by Mrs O. Muçollari, a lawyer practising in Tirana. The Albanian Government (“the Government”) were represented by their Agents, Mr S. Puto and Mrs S. Mëneri, of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.