The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) passed its judgment in the case of Casian versus the Republic of Moldova and the Russian Federation by which the Russian Federation was found guilty of violating the applicant’s ownership right. This case is the first in which the ECHR pronounced on the illegality of the actions of the separatist bodies that sequestrate or impose fines on the owners of motor vehicles with Moldovan license numbers that cross the Transnistrian region, IPN reports.

In a press release, the Association “Promo-LEX, whose jurists represented the applicant at the ECHR in February 2007, says that Petru Casian’s vehicle was sequestrated by representatives of the so-called customs post set up by the separatist forces at the entrance to Lunga village for the reason that he violated the regime of stay in the Transnistrian region. To be able to recover his vehicle, the applicant had to pay a ‘fine’ of about €30. However, the vehicle was released only at the end of March the same year. Though the plaintiff asked for the support of the constitutional authorities, these failed to offer him assistance in solving the problem, making only general statements.

The applicant complained to the ECHR that his ownership right was violated as a result of the sequestration of his car and compulsion to pay an illegal fine. By six votes in favor and one against, the Court held that the ownership right was violated in this case and awarded the applicant €3,530 in respect of pecuniary and non-pecuniary damage and court costs.