Today, the European Court of Human Rights issued its ruling in the case of "Spyridonidis v. Armenia" (application No. 35845/24). The court found a violation of Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights concerning the disproportionate delay in judicial proceedings for the return of unlawfully held children in Armenia.
The European Court determined that the overall proceedings, which lasted approximately 15 months, did not meet the state's positive obligation to act swiftly in similar cases and were incompatible with the requirements of Article 8 of the Convention and the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, which mandates expedited proceedings for the return of children.
The court ordered the Republic of Armenia to pay 4,500 euros as compensation for non-pecuniary damage.
