Expert ECHR Lawyers

What is the ECHR and When Can You Apply?

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) is an international court that examines complaints about violations of human rights under the European Convention. It is located in Strasbourg and operates under the Council of Europe.

Even though some countries have withdrawn from the Council of Europe, the ECHR continues to review complaints related to violations that occurred before the withdrawal.

Who Can Apply?

Any citizen whose rights have been violated by the state.

You can apply only after exhausting all possible legal remedies within the country.

Main Conditions for Filing a Complaint:

• Complaints must be filed within 4 months after the final decision of the national court.
• A violation of a Convention article must have occurred — such as the right to life, freedom, a fair trial, protection from torture, etc.

How Long Does the Process Take?

Cases may take 1 to 5 years to be resolved, depending on the complexity, volume of correspondence, and the Court’s workload.

How Much Does it Cost?

• Initial consultation and case evaluation — free of charge.
• Complaint preparation and representation — by agreement with a clear cost estimate.
• Additional costs — translations, notarized copies, postal services (all potential costs will be discussed upfront).
  

🔷 Evaluate the prospects of your complaint for free – just send a brief description of your situation.

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How to Prepare and Submit a Complaint to the ECHR?

Submitting a complaint to the European Court of Human Rights is a complex and strictly formalized procedure. Over 90% of complaints are dismissed without consideration due to errors in the application process or missing documents. This is why the involvement of an experienced lawyer is crucial: they will not only ensure your documents are correctly prepared but will also submit your complaint in a way that maximizes its chances of success.

What the Lawyer Does:

• Conducts an in-depth analysis of the case.
  
• Assesses the compliance of the complaint with admissibility criteria.
  
• Helps gather evidence and translate it into the Court’s languages (English/French).
  
• Drafts the complaint with a legal substantiation of violations.
  
• Submits the complaint to the ECHR and tracks delivery.
  

Required Documents:

• Court decisions from national courts (all levels).
  
• Medical documents, photos, videos, correspondence — any evidence of the violation.
  
• Passport of the applicant.
  
• Power of attorney (if we represent your interests).
  

Why it’s Important to Properly Fill Out the Complaint Form:

The ECHR accepts complaints only in the specified format. The form must be completed clearly, without omissions, and with legally sound arguments. Even a minor error (e.g., missing signature or incorrect language) will result in automatic rejection without the possibility of re-submission.

Stages of Submission:

• Initial consultation and case analysis.
• Collection and systematization of documents.
• Drafting and translation of the complaint.
• Completion of the form and attachment preparation.
• Sending the complaint by registered mail to Strasbourg with tracking.
• Confirmation of receipt by the Court.
  

🔷 We take full responsibility. You will receive a professionally prepared complaint that meets the ECHR’s requirements.

Correspondence with the ECHR and Urgent Measures Under Rule 39: What Happens After Submission

Once the complaint is submitted, communication with the Court begins. If your complaint passes the initial filtering and is deemed admissible, the ECHR will contact the respondent state to request its position. At this stage, active correspondence takes place, and accuracy, urgency, and professionalism in responses are key.

Why Legal Support is Important:

• All letters to the Court must be written in official languages (English or French).
• Missed deadlines or incorrect responses can lead to the closure of the case.
• The lawyer answers Court’s comments, provides clarifications, and forms the applicant’s legal position.

What the Correspondence Stage Involves:

• Receiving and analyzing Court requests.
• Preparing written explanations.
• Representing the client’s position in response to the state’s arguments.
• Statements for fair compensation (if necessary).

What is Rule 39?

Rule 39 of the ECHR Regulations allows the Court to apply interim protective measures if the applicant faces:

• Extradition to a country where they may face torture,
• A threat to life,
• A critical need for medical care,
  Other forms of irreparable harm.
  

Our Role:

• We respond immediately to critical situations.
• We prepare urgent motions with medical, legal, and other evidence.
• We send requests directly to the Court with the “urgent” label.

Examples of situations where Rule 39 applies:

• The threat of expulsion of a refugee to a country where they may face imprisonment.
• Arrest and risk of torture.
• Denial of urgent medical treatment in their home country.

🔷 Urgent measures save lives — and we know how to ensure they are applied.

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What Compensation Includes Under Article 41 ECHR:

• Moral damage — for suffering, humiliation, and injustice.
• Material damage — lost income, medical treatment expenses, legal fees, travel costs.
• Legal and judicial expenses — including payment for our services.

How the Compensation Amount is Formed:

• We analyze ECHR practices in similar cases.
• We collect financial documents, receipts, and certificates.
• We compare your situation with similar Court decisions.

Stages of Obtaining Compensation:

• Preparing a statement for fair satisfaction.
• Sending the document to the ECHR within the specified time.
• Receiving the decision on the awarded amount.
• Correspondence with the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe regarding the payment control.