ÿWPC  Œެ§íWJËàV:KýÞ¢}¾ÑFl³¦›î¶+m’ºó!œwŒtÚ9·’ÅíSó¨…»3³³±ªHy (~dØx/À§3[ëMç^ìñÞfØ7âÔµ¸Ì³H;MHõÝQ¨D»eå_Üj/V š¼Û5· X¡A Ò#CÛO£ÖFêнŠotK”Sê38÷ßé_òfòZ‹ÜY àÙâ_h…P?LT]pÒÞG}reWvä ØÜ_7&Ÿ Ùœ4Ÿ¶½¸˜ýk®Ù|“V ËÓpËÉ–x—©€dA@û>¡Ñô#„"¨y0ÃE‚T0'ç@ê‰:ÌrŠÙWÅÄ@8¹û$Óþj%ã¹¢«0èE£~_øÄÑ”©-6ûn¥?žNßùgÓÔAÿÃ^¥Ú{ñ‚àkÄ “#?¶Eƹ—yæFXo± ™ÑyTs|$“vXcùÕ!Òv)¥BÜ Ž£ûßCΣ(zœK¤òKÛd·Å€ ¿þÿA•²RI}œV‘ѳ¤Iï;Š0‹WŽóñõ÷Ù¸DHšbR<=èÁ,b‹&}¼Î4žcqd­Xw†¥ä,¿MÕ©†ºªíMÖ­Nc® É¤ÜŸ¸6›ˆ38ÅŒÑ2îëp^#ÁPUN %_ 0:e^ Ÿw«4¯ÃÒ mÔ 1‡ë 72r 0b¤ 0v 0Š| 0ž 0²¤ 0ÆV 0Ú 0îö 0ä 1uæ 72[ ˜HP LaserJet 6P/6MP - StandardÈÐððÈÐ0(ÈhH  Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(ûœ$¡¡ÔUKUS.,Ô i*, tQ+ DocumeP{ 3|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ h‹sCEIMQUY]aAutoList1""""""""i)1)a) "(:y$´´Ô2  Ôð"ðÔ3  Ôà0  à(N s$µµà0  àÔ2  Ôð"ðÔ3  Ôà0` (#(#à(bÕÄ$¶¶à0  àà0` (#(#àÔ2  Ôð"ðÔ3  Ôà0¸ ` (#` (#à(v“{$··à0  àà0` (#(#àà0¸ ` (#` (#àÔ2  Ôð"ðÔ3  Ôà0¸ (#¸ (#à(Šp$¸¸à0  àà0` (#(#àà0¸ ` (#` (#àà0¸ (#¸ (#àÔ2  Ôð"ðÔ3  Ôà0h(#(#à(žʦ$¹¹à0  àà0` (#(#àà0¸ ` (#` (#àà0¸ (#¸ (#àà0h(#(#àÔ2  Ôð"ðÔ3  Ôà0Àh(#h(#à(²îŠ$ººà0  àà0` (#(#àà0¸ ` (#` (#àà0¸ (#¸ (#àà0h(#(#àà0Àh(#h(#àÔ2  Ôð"ðÔ3  Ôà0À(#À(#à(Æ›$»»à0  àà0` (#(#àà0¸ ` (#` (#àà0¸ (#¸ (#àà0h(#(#àà0Àh(#h(#àà0À(#À(#àÔ2  Ôð"ðÔ3  Ôà0p(#(#à(Ú<$ïïà0  àà0` (#(#àà0¸ ` (#` (#àà0¸ (#¸ (#àà0h(#(#àà0Àh(#h(#àà0À(#À(#àà0p(#(#àÔ2  Ôð"ðÔ3  Ôà0Èp(#p(#à3#37=CIQYag­­1.a.i.(1)(a)(i)1)a)i)Ý ƒûœ!ÝÔUKUS.,ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÓ  Óò òHUMAN€RIGHTS€COMMITTEEÐ ° ÐÌòòDes€Fours€v.€Czech€RepublicóóÐ à ÐÌCommunication€No€747/1997Ð pÀ ÐÌ30€October€2001Ð P   ÐÌÔ_ÔCCPRÔ_Ô/C/73/D/747/1997€Ð 0 € ÐÌÌVIEWSó óÐ P  ÐÌÌÌòòòòSubmitted€byóó:€€Dr.€Karel€Des€Fours€Ô_ÔWalderodeÔ_Ô€(deceased€in€February€2000)€and€his€Ð À Ðà  àà ` àsurviving€spouse€Dr.€Johanna€Ô_ÔKammerlanderÔ_Ô€(counsel)€Ð ° ÐÌòòAlleged€victimsóó:€€The€author€and€his€surviving€spouse€Ð à ÐÌòòState€Partyóó:€The€Czech€Republic€Ð pÀ ÐÌòòDate€of€Communication:óó€21€November€1996€óóÐ P  ÐÌÌà  àòòThe€Human€Rights€Committeeóó,€established€under€article€28€of€the€International€Covenant€onÐ  p ÐCivil€and€Political€Rights,€Ð ` ÐÌà  àòòMeeting€onóó€30€October€2001,€Ð ð@ ÐÌà  àòòHaving€concluded€its€considerationóó€of€communication€No.€747/1997,€submitted€to€theÐ Ð  ÐHuman€Rights€Committee€by€the€late€Dr.€Karel€Des€Fours€Ô_ÔWalderodeÔ_Ô€and€Dr.€JohannaÐ À! ÐÔ_ÔKammerlanderÔ_Ô€under€the€Optional€Protocol€to€the€International€Covenant€on€Civil€and€PoliticalÐ °"  ÐRights,€Ð  #ð! ÐÌà  àòòHaving€taken€into€accountóó€all€written€information€made€available€to€it€by€the€author€of€theÐ €%Ð # Ðcommunication€and€by€the€State€party,€Ð p&À!$ ÐÌà  àòòAdopts€the€followingóó:€Ð P( #& ÐÌÌÓ=ÓÓ  ÓòòViews€under€article€5,€paragraph€4,€of€the€Optional€Protocol€óóÐ  +p&) ÐÓÓÓÓÌ1.€€The€original€author€of€the€communication€was€Dr.€Karel€Des€Fours€Ô_ÔWalderodeÔ_Ô,€a€citizen€of€theÐ -P(+ ÐCzech€Republic€and€Austria,€residing€in€Prague,€Czech€Republic.€He€was€represented€by€his€spouse,Ð ð-@), ÐDr.€Johanna€Ô_ÔKammerlanderÔ_Ô,€as€counsel.€He€claimed€to€be€a€victim€of€violations€of€article€14,Ð ° Ðparagraph€1,€and€article€26€of€the€International€Covenant€on€Civil€and€Political€Rights€by€the€CzechÐ  ð ÐRepublic.€The€Covenant€was€ratified€by€Czechoslovakia€in€December€1975,€the€Optional€ProtocolÐ à Ðin€March€1991.€(1)€The€author€passed€away€on€6€February€2000,€and€his€surviving€spouse€maintains€Ð €Ð Ðthe€communication€before€the€Committee.€Ð pÀ ÐÌò òThe€facts€as€submitted€ó óÐ P   ÐÌ2.1€€Dr.€Des€Fours€Ô_ÔWalderodeÔ_Ô€was€born€a€citizen€of€the€Austrian-Hungarian€empire€on€4€May€1904Ð 0 € Ðin€Vienna,€of€French€and€German€descent.€His€family€had€been€established€in€Bohemia€since€theÐ  p  Ðseventeenth€century.€At€the€end€of€the€First€World€War€in€1918,€he€was€a€resident€of€Bohemia,€aÐ `  Ðkingdom€in€the€former€empire,€and€became€a€citizen€of€the€newly€created€Czechoslovak€State.€InÐ P  Ð1939,€because€of€his€German€mother€tongue,€he€automatically€became€a€German€citizen€by€virtueÐ ð@  Ðof€Hitler's€decree€of€16€March€1939,€establishing€the€Protectorate€of€Bohemia€and€Ô_ÔMoraviaÔ_Ô.€On€5Ð à0  ÐMarch€1941,€the€author's€father€died€and€he€inherited€the€Ô_ÔHrubyÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔRohozecÔ_Ô€estate.€Ð Ð  ÐÌ2.2€€At€the€end€of€the€Second€World€War,€on€6€August€1945,€his€estate€was€confiscated€under€Ô_ÔBenesÔ_ÔÐ ° ÐDecree€12/1945,€pursuant€to€which€the€landed€properties€of€German€and€Magyar€private€personsÐ  ð Ðwere€confiscated€without€any€compensation.€However,€on€account€of€his€proven€loyalty€toÐ à ÐCzechoslovakia€during€the€period€of€Nazi€occupation,€he€retained€his€Czechoslovak€citizenship,Ð €Ð Ðpursuant€to€paragraph€2€of€Constitutional€Decree€33/1945.€Subsequently,€after€a€CommunistÐ pÀ Ðgovernment€came€to€power€in€1948,€he€was€forced€to€leave€Czechoslovakia€in€1949€for€political€and€Ð `° Ðeconomic€reasons.€In€1991,€after€the€"velvet€revolution"€of€1989,€he€again€took€up€permanentÐ P  Ðresidence€in€Prague.€On€16€April€1991€the€Czech€Ministry€of€Interior€informed€him€that€he€was€stillÐ @ Ða€Czech€citizen.€Nevertheless,€Czech€citizenship€was€again€conferred€on€him€by€the€Ministry€on€20Ð 0€ ÐAugust€1992,€apparently€after€a€document€was€found€showing€that€he€had€lost€his€citizenship€inÐ  p Ð1949,€when€he€left€the€country.€Ð ` ÐÌ2.3€€On€15€April€1992,€Law€243/1992€came€into€force.€The€law€provides€for€restitution€ofÐ ð@ Ðagricultural€and€forest€property€confiscated€under€Decree€12/1945.€To€be€eligible€for€restitution,€aÐ à0 Ðclaimant€had€to€have€Czech€citizenship€under€Decree€33/1945€(or€under€Law€245/1948,€194/1949Ð Ð  Ðor€34/1953),€permanent€residence€in€the€Czech€Republic,€having€been€loyal€to€the€CzechoslovakÐ À! ÐRepublic€during€the€period€of€German€occupation,€and€to€have€Czech€citizenship€at€the€time€ofÐ °"  Ðsubmitting€a€claim€for€restitution.€The€author€filed€a€claim€for€restitution€of€the€Ô_ÔHrubyÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔRohozecÔ_ÔÐ  #ð! Ðestate€within€the€prescribed€time€limit€and€on€24€November€1992€concluded€a€restitution€contractÐ $à" Ðwith€the€then€owners,€which€was€approved€by€the€Land€Office€on€10€March€1993€(PU-R€806/93).Ð €%Ð # ÐThe€appeal€by€the€town€of€Ô_ÔTurnovÔ_Ô€was€rejected€by€the€Central€Land€Office€by€decision€1391/93-50Ð p&À!$ Ðof€30€July€1993.€Consequently,€on€29€September€1993€the€author€took€possession€of€his€lands.€Ð `'°"% ÐÌ2.4€€The€author€alleges€State€interference€with€the€judiciary€and€consistent€pressure€on€administrativeÐ @)$' Ðauthorities€and€cites€in€substantiation€from€a€letter€dated€29€April€1993€by€the€then€Czech€PrimeÐ 0*€%( ÐMinister€Ô_ÔVaclavÔ_Ô€Klaus,€addressed€to€party€authorities€in€Ô_ÔSemilyÔ_Ô€and€to€the€relevant€Ministries,Ð  +p&) Ðenclosing€a€legal€opinion€according€to€which€the€restitution€of€property€confiscated€before€25Ð ,`'* ÐFebruary€1948€was€"legal",€but€nevertheless€"unacceptable".€The€author€states€that€this€politicalÐ -P(+ Ðstatement€was€subsequently€used€in€court€proceedings.€The€author€further€states€that,€because€ofÐ ð-@), Ðincreasing€political€pressure€at€the€end€of€1993€the€Ministry€of€Interior€reopened€the€issue€of€hisÐ ° Ðcitizenship.€Furthermore,€the€former€owners€of€the€land€were€persuaded€to€withdraw€their€consentÐ  ð Ðto€the€restitution€to€which€they€had€previously€agreed.€Ð à ÐÌ2.5€€On€22€December€1994€the€Public€Prosecutor's€Office€in€the€Ô_ÔSemilyÔ_Ô€District€filed€an€applicationÐ pÀ Ðwith€the€District€Court€under€paragraph€42€of€Law€283/1993€to€declare€the€Land€Office's€decisionÐ ` ° Ðof€10€March€1993€null€and€void.€On€29€December€1994,€the€District€Court€rejected€this€application.Ð P   ÐOn€appeal,€the€matter€was€referred€back€to€the€first€instance.€Ð @  ÐÌ2.6€€On€7€August€1995,€a€"citizens'€initiative"€petitioned€revision€of€the€Ô_ÔSemilyÔ_Ô€Land€Office'sÐ  p  Ðdecision€of€10€March€1993.€€On€17€October€1995,€the€Central€Land€Office€examined€the€legality€ofÐ `  Ðthe€decision€and€rejected€the€request€for€revision.€€Nevertheless,€on€2€November€1995€the€author€wasÐ P  Ðinformed€by€the€Central€Land€Office€that€it€would,€after€all,€begin€to€revise€the€decision.€On€23Ð ð@  ÐNovember€1995,€the€Minister€of€Agriculture€annulled€the€Ô_ÔSemilyÔ_Ô€Land€Office€decision€of€10€MarchÐ à0  Ð1993,€purportedly€because€of€doubts€as€to€whether€the€author€fulfilled€the€requirement€of€permanentÐ Ð  Ðresidence,€and€referred€the€matter€back.€On€22€January€1996,€the€author€applied€to€the€High€CourtÐ À Ðin€Prague€against€the€Minister's€decision.€Ð ° ÐÌ2.7€€On€9€February€1996,€Law€243/1992€was€amended.€The€condition€of€permanent€residence€wasÐ à Ðremoved€(following€the€judgement€of€the€Constitutional€Court€of€12€December€1995,€holding€theÐ €Ð Ðresidence€requirement€to€be€unconstitutional),€but€a€new€condition€was€added,€of€uninterruptedÐ pÀ ÐCzechoslovak/Czech€citizenship€from€the€end€of€the€war€until€1€January€1990.€The€author€claims€thatÐ `° Ðthis€law€specifically€targeted€him€and€submits€evidence€of€the€use€of€the€term€"Lex€Ô_ÔWalderodeÔ_Ô"€byÐ P  Ðthe€Czech€media€and€public€authorities.€On€3€March€1996€the€Ô_ÔSemilyÔ_Ô€Land€Office€applied€the€Ð @ Ðamended€Law€to€his€case€to€invalidate€the€restitution€agreement€of€24€November€1992,€since€Dr.€DesÐ 0€ ÐFours€did€not€fulfil€the€new€eligibility€requirement€of€continuous€citizenship.€On€4€April€1996,€theÐ  p Ðauthor€lodged€an€appeal€with€the€Prague€City€Court€against€the€Land€Office's€decision.€Ð ` ÐÌ2.8€€As€regards€the€exhaustion€of€domestic€remedies,€the€late€author€contended€that€the€proceedingsÐ ð@ Ðwere€being€deliberately€drawn€out€because€of€his€age€and,€moreover,€that€the€negative€outcome€wasÐ à0 Ðpredictable.€He€therefore€requested€the€Committee€to€consider€his€communication€admissible,Ð Ð  Ðbecause€of€the€delay€in€the€proceedings€and€the€unlikelihood€of€the€effectiveness€of€domesticÐ À! Ðremedies.€Ð °"  ÐÌò òThe€complaintó ó€Ð $à" ÐÌ3.1€€The€late€author€and€his€surviving€spouse€claim€that€the€restitution€of€the€property€in€questionÐ p&À!$ Ðwas€annulled€for€political€and€economic€reasons€and€the€legislation€was€amended€to€exclude€himÐ `'°"% Ðfrom€the€possibility€of€obtaining€redress€for€the€confiscation€of€his€property.€It€is€claimed€that€thisÐ P( #& Ðconstitutes€a€violation€of€article€26€of€the€Covenant,€as€well€as€of€article€14,€paragraph€1,€becauseÐ @)$' Ðof€political€interference€with€the€legal€process€(such€as€the€Minister's€decision€of€23€November€Ð 0*€%( Ð1995).€In€this€context,€the€author€also€refers€to€the€long€delays€in€the€hearing€of€his€case.€Ð  +p&) ÐÌ3.2€€Further,€he€claims€that€the€requirement€of€continuous€citizenship€for€the€restitution€of€propertyÐ -P(+ Ðis€in€violation€of€article€26€of€the€Covenant€and€refers€to€the€Committee's€jurisprudence€on€this€point.Ð ð-@), ÐThe€author€also€claims€that€the€restitution€conditions€applying€to€him€are€discriminatory€inÐ ° Ðcomparison€with€those€applying€to€post-1948€confiscations.€Ð  ð ÐÌò òThe€State€party's€observations€ó óÐ €Ð ÐÌ4.1€€By€submission€of€13€June€1997,€the€State€party€noted€that€the€author€appealed€to€the€Prague€CityÐ ` ° ÐCourt€from€the€decision€of€the€District€Land€Office€in€Ô_ÔSemilyÔ_Ô€of€8€March€1996.€As€of€June€1997,€theÐ P   Ðproceedings€were€not€completed,€since€the€Land€Office€could€not€send€the€files€concerning€the€caseÐ @  Ðto€the€City€Court,€since€these€were€still€with€the€High€Court.€Ð 0 € ÐÌ4.2€€Considering€that€the€author€commenced€proceedings€in€the€High€Court€in€January€1996€againstÐ `  Ðthe€decision€of€the€Minister€of€Agriculture€to€annul€the€restitution,€and€that€by€December€1996,€theÐ P  Ðpreparatory€stage€of€obtaining€all€necessary€documentary€evidence€was€completed,€the€State€partyÐ ð@  Ðargued€that€no€undue€prolongation€had€occurred.€Ð à0  ÐÌ4.3€€The€State€party€indicated€that€remedies€exist€when€the€author€feels€that€the€proceedings€areÐ À Ðbeing€intentionally€delayed.€The€author€could€have€complained€to€the€Chairman€of€the€court,€fromÐ ° Ðwhere€a€possibility€of€review€with€the€Ministry€of€Justice€exists.€Another€remedy€available€to€theÐ  ð Ðauthor€is€a€constitutional€complaint,€which€may€be€accepted€even€if€he€has€not€exhausted€domesticÐ à Ðremedies€if€the€application€of€remedies€is€unduly€delayed€and€he€has€suffered€serious€harm€as€aÐ €Ð Ðresult.€Ð pÀ ÐÌ4.4€€According€to€the€State€party,€the€rights€invoked€by€the€author€are€rights€that€can€be€assertedÐ P  Ðthrough€a€constitutional€complaint,€since€international€treaties€regarding€human€rights€are€directlyÐ @ Ðapplicable€and€superior€to€law.€Ð 0€ ÐÌ4.5€€The€State€party€rejects€the€author's€suggestion€that€any€attempts€to€assert€his€rights€through€theÐ ` Ðcourts€is€useless€because€of€the€political€interference€with€the€judicial€process.€As€regards€the€PrimeÐ P ÐMinister's€letter€concerning€the€interpretation€of€Law€No.€243/1992,€the€State€party€denies€that€thisÐ ð@ Ðletter€was€a€political€instruction€for€the€courts.€It€notes€that€the€letter€was€not€addressed€to€a€court€andÐ à0 Ðthat€it€was€merely€a€reply€to€an€information€request€from€the€chairman€of€the€local€branch€of€hisÐ Ð  Ðparty€and€the€contents€were€general€in€nature.€If€the€author€nevertheless€fears€that€the€letter€mayÐ À! Ðaffect€the€impartiality€of€the€court,€he€may€ask€the€Constitutional€Court€to€order€that€the€letter€shouldÐ °"  Ðbe€removed€from€the€court€file€on€the€ground€of€interference€by€a€public€authority€with€the€exerciseÐ  #ð! Ðof€his€right€to€a€fair€hearing.€Ð $à" ÐÌ4.6€€The€State€party€submits€that€difference€in€treatment€between€the€Restitution€Law€No.€243/1992Ð p&À!$ Ðand€the€laws€applying€to€the€post-1948€confiscations€does€not€constitute€discrimination,€as€the€twoÐ `'°"% Ðsets€of€laws€serve€different€purposes€and€cannot€be€compared.€Ð P( #& ÐÌ4.7€€The€State€party€concluded€that€the€author€has€failed€to€exhaust€domestic€remedies€and€that€theÐ 0*€%( Ðcommunication€is€thus€€inadmissible€under€article€5,€paragraph€2€(b),€of€the€Optional€Protocol.€TheÐ  +p&) ÐState€party€also€submits€that€since€the€author's€allegations€are€not€substantiated€and/or€do€not€discloseÐ ,`'* Ðan€appearance€of€a€violation€of€any€of€the€rights€set€forth€in€the€Covenant,€the€communication€isÐ -P(+ Ðinadmissible€òòÔ_ÔrationeÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔmateriaeÔ_Ôóó.€Ð ð-@), Їò òThe€author's€comments€ó óÐ ° ÐÌ€€€€€5.1€€In€his€comments,€the€author€refers€to€his€original€communication€and€submits€that€the€StateÐ à Ðparty€has€basically€failed€to€contradict€any€of€his€claims.€Ð €Ð ÐÌ5.2€€He€emphasizes€that€he€retained€his€Czech€citizenship€under€Ô_ÔBenesÔ_Ô€Decree€No.€33/1945,€and€thatÐ ` ° Ðthus€all€the€requirements€of€the€original€Law€243/1992€had€been€fulfilled€when€the€Land€OfficeÐ P   Ðapproved€the€return€of€his€property.€The€author€notes€that€the€State€party€remains€silent€aboutÐ @  Ðamendment€30/1996,€introducing€a€further€condition€of€continuous€Czech€citizenship,€which€did€notÐ 0 € Ðapply€when€his€restitution€contract€was€approved€in€1993.€According€to€the€author,€this€amendmentÐ  p  Ðmade€it€possible€to€expropriate€him€again.€Ð `  ÐÌ5.3€€According€to€the€author,€the€application€of€further€domestic€remedies€would€be€futile€becauseÐ ð@  Ðof€the€political€interests€in€his€case.€He€moreover€points€to€the€delays€in€the€handling€of€the€case,Ð à0  Ðwhether€intentional€or€not.€Ð Ð  ÐÌ5.4€€The€author€dismisses€the€State€party's€attempt€to€explain€away€the€Minister's€letter€as€a€simpleÐ ° Ðexpression€of€opinion€and€maintains€that€the€opinion€of€the€Prime€Minister€was€equated€with€anÐ  ð Ðinterpretation€of€the€law,€and€submits€that€the€political€dimension€of€his€restitution€procedure€isÐ à Ðevident€from€the€interaction€of€several€components.€Ð €Ð ÐÌ5.5€€With€regard€to€the€petition€received€by€the€Ministry€of€Agriculture€from€local€residents,€theÐ `° Ðauthor€points€out€that€the€decision€of€the€Ô_ÔSemilyÔ_Ô€Land€Office€was€handed€down€on€10€March€1993Ð P  Ðand€the€petition€against€it€was€submitted€on€7€August€1995,€two€years€and€five€months€later.€TheÐ @ ÐMinister€of€Agriculture's€order€quashing€the€Ô_ÔSemilyÔ_Ô€Land€Office's€earlier€decision€followed€on€23Ð 0€ ÐNovember€1995,€three€and€half€months€after€the€petition.€It€becomes€evident€that€the€30-day€timeÐ  p Ðlimit€stipulated€in€Law€85/1990€concerning€the€right€of€petition€was€not€observed.€Ð ` ÐÌ5.6€€In€a€further€submission,€the€author€states€that€his€complaint€against€the€Minister's€decision€ofÐ ð@ Ð23€November€1995€was€rejected€by€the€High€Court€on€25€August€1997.€The€author€claims€that€theÐ à0 Ðreasons€given€by€the€court€again€illustrate€the€political€nature€of€the€process.€Ð Ð  ÐÌ5.7€€On€25€March€1998,€the€Prague€City€Court€rejected€the€author's€appeal€against€the€refusal€of€theÐ °"  Ðrestitution€of€his€property€by€the€Land€Office€in€1996,€since€he€no€longer€fulfilled€the€requirementsÐ  #ð! Ðadded€to€the€law€in€amendment€30/1996.€On€24€July€1998,€the€author€filed€a€complaint€against€thisÐ $à" Ðdecision€with€the€Czech€Constitutional€Court.€Ð €%Ð # ÐÌ5.8€€The€author€further€submits€that€even€if€the€Constitutional€Court€would€find€in€his€favour,€theÐ `'°"% Ðdecision€would€again€be€referred€to€the€first€instance€(the€Land€Office),€thus€entailing€considerableÐ P( #& Ðfurther€delay€and€opening€the€door€for€more€political€intervention.€According€to€the€author,€theÐ @)$' Ðwhole€procedure€could€easily€take€another€five€years.€He€considers€€this€to€be€unjustifiably€long,€alsoÐ 0*€%( Ðin€view€of€his€age.€Ð  +p&) ÐÌ5.9€€In€this€context,€the€author€recalls€the€salient€aspects€of€his€case.€The€restitution€contract€whichÐ -P(+ Ðhe€concluded€was€approved€by€the€Land€Office€on€10€March€1993,€and€the€appeal€against€theÐ ð-@), Ðapproval€was€rejected€by€the€Central€Land€Office€on€30€July€1993,€after€which€the€restitution€wasÐ ° Ðeffected€in€accordance€with€Law€243/1992.€Only€on€25€November€1995,€that€is€more€than€two€yearsÐ  ð Ðafter€he€had€taken€possession€of€his€lands,€did€the€Minister€of€Agriculture€quash€the€Land€Office'sÐ à Ðdecision,€on€the€ground€that€the€Office€had€not€sufficiently€verified€whether€the€author€complied€withÐ €Ð Ðthe€requirement€of€permanent€residence.€It€appears€from€the€Court€judgements€in€the€case,€that€at€theÐ pÀ Ðtime€of€the€Minister's€decision,€it€was€expected€that€the€Constitutional€Court€would€declare€thisÐ ` ° Ðresidence€requirement€unconstitutional€(it€subsequently€did€so,€on€12€December€1995,€less€than€aÐ P   Ðmonth€after€the€Minister's€decision).€After€a€€requirement€of€continued€citizenship€was€added€to€LawÐ @  Ð243/1992€by€law€30/1996€of€9€February€1996,€the€Land€Office€then€reviewed€the€legality€of€theÐ 0 € Ðrestitution€agreement€in€the€author's€case,€and€applying€the€new€law€declared€the€agreement€invalidÐ  p  Ðon€3€March€1996.€The€two€court€proceedings€which€the€author€then€initiated,€were€delayed,€as€Ð `  Ðacknowledged€by€the€State€party,€in€one€case€because€the€Ministry€was€not€in€a€position€to€furnishÐ P  Ðthe€papers€needed€by€the€Court,€and€in€the€other€because€of€a€backlog€at€the€court€in€handling€cases.€Ð ð@  ÐÌò òAdmissibility€considerations€ó óÐ Ð  ÐÌ6.1€Before€considering€any€claims€contained€in€a€communication,€the€Human€Rights€CommitteeÐ ° Ðmust,€in€accordance€with€article€87€of€its€rules€of€procedure,€decide€whether€or€not€it€is€admissibleÐ  ð Ðunder€the€Optional€Protocol€to€the€Covenant.€Ð à ÐÌ6.2€€During€its€sixty-fifth€session€in€March€1999,€the€Committee€considered€the€admissibility€of€theÐ pÀ Ðcommunication.€It€noted€the€State€party's€objection€to€the€admissibility€of€the€communication€on€theÐ `° Ðground€that€the€author€had€failed€to€exhaust€all€domestic€remedies€available€to€him.€The€CommitteeÐ P  Ðnoted,€however,€that€in€August€1997,€the€High€Court€rejected€the€author's€complaint€against€theÐ @ ÐMinister's€decision,€and€on€25€March€1998,€the€City€Court€in€Prague€rejected€his€appeal€against€theÐ 0€ ÐLand€Office's€decision€of€1996.€The€text€of€these€decisions€shows€that€no€further€appeal€is€possible.Ð  p ÐThe€effect€is€to€preclude€any€further€attempt€by€the€author€to€validate€and€seek€approval€of€theÐ ` Ðrestitution€agreement€of€1992.€Ð P ÐÌ6.3€€The€author€has€since€filed€a€constitutional€complaint€against€the€Prague€City€Court€decision€thatÐ à0 Ðthe€requirement€of€continued€citizenship€is€legitimate.€The€Committee€noted€that€in€the€instant€case,Ð Ð  Ðthe€Constitutional€Court€had€already€examined€the€constitutionality€of€Law€243/1992.€In€the€opinionÐ À! Ðof€the€Committee€and€having€regard€to€the€history€of€this€case,€a€constitutional€motion€in€the€author'sÐ °"  Ðcase€would€not€offer€him€a€reasonable€chance€of€obtaining€effective€redress€and€therefore€would€notÐ  #ð! Ðconstitute€an€effective€remedy€which€the€author€would€have€to€exhaust€for€purposes€of€article€5,Ð $à" Ðparagraph€2€(b),€of€the€Optional€Protocol.€Ð €%Ð # ÐÌ6.4€€In€this€context,€the€Committee€also€took€note€of€the€author's€arguments€that€even€if€he€were€toÐ `'°"% Ðwin€a€constitutional€appeal,€the€case€would€then€be€referred€back,€and€the€proceedings€could€takeÐ P( #& Ðanother€five€years€to€become€finalized.€In€the€circumstances,€taking€into€account€the€delays€whichÐ @)$' Ðhad€already€been€incurred€in€the€proceedings€and€which€were€attributable€to€the€State€party,€theÐ 0*€%( Ðdelays€which€would€likely€occur€in€future€and€the€author's€advanced€age,€the€Committee€also€foundÐ  +p&) Ðthat€the€application€of€domestic€remedies€had€been€unreasonably€prolonged.€Ð ,`'* ÐÌ7.€€Ô_ÔOnÔ_Ô€19€March€1999,€the€Committee€held€that€the€communication€was€admissible€insofar€as€itÐ ð-@), Ðmight€raise€issues€under€articles€14,€paragraph€1,€and€26€of€the€Covenant.€Ð ° ÐÌò òConsideration€of€the€merits€ó óÐ à ÐÌ8.1€€Pursuant€to€article€5,€paragraph€1,€of€the€Optional€Protocol,€the€Committee€proceeds€to€anÐ pÀ Ðexamination€of€the€€merits,€in€the€light€of€the€information€submitted€by€the€parties.€It€notes€that€it€hasÐ ` ° Ðreceived€sufficient€information€from€the€late€author€and€his€surviving€spouse,€and€that€no€furtherÐ P   Ðinformation€on€the€merits€has€been€received€from€the€State€party€subsequent€to€the€transmittal€of€theÐ @  ÐCommittee's€admissibility€decision,€notwithstanding€two€reminders.€The€Committee€recalls€that€aÐ 0 € ÐState€party€has€an€obligation€under€article€4,€paragraph€2,€of€the€Optional€Protocol€to€cooperate€withÐ  p  Ðthe€Committee€and€to€submit€written€explanations€or€statements€clarifying€the€matter€and€theÐ `  Ðremedy,€if€any,€that€may€have€been€granted.€Ð P  ÐÌ8.2€€The€Committee€has€noted€the€author's€claims€that€the€State€party€has€violated€article€14,Ð à0  Ðparagraph€1,€of€the€Covenant€because€of€alleged€interference€by€the€executive€and€legislativeÐ Ð  Ðbranches€of€government€in€the€judicial€process,€in€particular€through€the€letter€of€the€Prime€MinisterÐ À Ðdated€29€April€1993,€and€because€of€the€adoption€of€retroactive€legislation€aimed€at€depriving€theÐ ° Ðauthor€of€rights€already€acquired€by€virtue€of€prior€Czech€legislation€and€decisions€of€the€Ô_ÔSemilyÔ_ÔÐ  ð ÐLand€Office.€With€regard€to€the€adoption€of€retroactive€legislation,€the€Committee€observes€that,Ð à Ðwhereas€an€allegation€of€arbitrariness€and€a€consequent€violation€of€article€26€is€made€in€this€respect,Ð €Ð Ðit€is€not€clear€how€the€enactment€of€law€30/1996€raises€an€issue€under€article€14,€paragraph€1.€As€toÐ pÀ Ðthe€Prime€Minister's€letter,€the€Committee€notes€that€it€was€part€of€the€administrative€file€in€respectÐ `° Ðof€the€author's€property€which€was€produced€in€Court,€and€that€€there€is€no€indication€whether€andÐ P  Ðhow€this€letter€was€actually€used€in€the€court€proceedings.€In€the€absence€of€any€further€information,Ð @ Ðthe€Committee€takes€the€view€that€the€mere€existence€of€the€letter€in€the€case€file€is€not€sufficient€to€Ð 0€ Ðsustain€a€finding€of€a€violation€of€article€14,€paragraph€1,€of€the€Covenant.€Ð  p ÐÌ8.3€€With€regard€to€the€author's€allegation€of€a€violation€of€article€26€of€the€Covenant,€the€CommitteeÐ P Ðbegins€by€noting€that€Law€No.€243/1992€already€contained€a€requirement€of€citizenship€as€one€ofÐ ð@ Ðthe€conditions€for€restitution€of€property€and€that€the€amending€Law€No.€30/1996€retroactively€addedÐ à0 Ða€more€stringent€requirement€of€continued€citizenship.€The€Committee€notes€further€that€theÐ Ð  Ðamending€Law€disqualified€the€author€and€any€others€in€this€situation,€who€might€otherwise€haveÐ À! Ðqualified€for€restitution.€This€raises€an€issue€of€arbitrariness€and,€consequently,€of€a€breach€of€theÐ °"  Ðright€to€equality€before€the€law,€equal€protection€of€the€law€and€non-discrimination€under€article€26Ð  #ð! Ðof€the€Covenant.€Ð $à" ÐÌ8.4€€The€Committee€recalls€its€Views€in€cases€No.€516/1993€(òòÔ_ÔSimunekÔ_Ô€et€al.óó),€586/1994€(òòJosephÐ p&À!$ ÐAdamóó)€and€857/1999€(òòÔ_ÔBlazekÔ_Ô€et€al.óó)€that€a€requirement€in€the€law€for€citizenship€as€a€necessaryÐ `'°"% Ðcondition€for€restitution€of€property€previously€confiscated€by€the€authorities€makes€an€arbitrary,€and,Ð P( #& Ðconsequently€a€discriminatory€distinction€between€individuals€who€are€equally€victims€of€prior€stateÐ @)$' Ðconfiscations,€and€constitutes€a€violation€of€article€26€of€the€Covenant.€This€violation€is€furtherÐ 0*€%( Ðexacerbated€by€the€retroactive€operation€of€the€impugned€Law.€Ð  +p&) ÐÌ9.1€€The€Human€Rights€Committee,€acting€under€article€5,€paragraph€4,€of€the€Optional€Protocol,€isÐ -P(+ Ðof€the€view€that€article€26,€in€conjunction€with€article€2€of€the€Covenant,€has€been€violated€by€theÐ ð-@), ÐState€party.€Ð ° ÐÌ9.2€€In€accordance€with€article€2,€paragraph€3€(a)€of€the€Covenant,€the€State€party€is€under€anÐ à Ðobligation€to€provide€the€late€author's€surviving€spouse,€Dr.€Johanna€Ô_ÔKammerlanderÔ_Ô,€with€anÐ €Ð Ðeffective€remedy,€entailing€in€this€case€prompt€restitution€of€the€property€in€question€orÐ pÀ Ðcompensation€therefor,€and,€in€addition,€appropriate€compensation€in€respect€of€the€fact€that€theÐ ` ° Ðauthor€and€his€surviving€spouse€have€been€deprived€of€the€enjoyment€of€their€property€since€itsÐ P   Ðrestitution€was€revoked€in€1995.€The€State€party€should€review€its€legislation€and€administrativeÐ @  Ðpractices€to€ensure€that€all€persons€enjoy€both€equality€before€the€law€as€well€as€the€equal€protectionÐ 0 € Ðof€the€law.€Ð  p  ÐÌ9.3€€The€Committee€recalls€that€the€Czech€Republic,€by€becoming€a€State€party€to€the€OptionalÐ P  ÐProtocol,€recognized€the€competence€of€the€Committee€to€determine€whether€there€has€been€aÐ ð@  Ðviolation€of€the€Covenant€or€not€and€that,€pursuant€to€article€2€of€the€Covenant,€the€State€party€hasÐ à0  Ðundertaken€to€ensure€to€all€individuals€within€its€territory€or€subject€to€its€€jurisdiction€the€rightsÐ Ð  Ðrecognized€in€the€Covenant€and€to€provide€an€effective€and€enforceable€remedy€in€case€a€violationÐ À Ðhas€been€established.€Furthermore,€the€Committee€urges€the€State€party€to€put€in€place€proceduresÐ ° Ðto€deal€with€Views€under€the€Optional€Protocol.€Ð  ð ÐÌ9.4€€In€this€connection,€the€Committee€wishes€to€receive€from€the€State€party,€within€90€daysÐ €Ð Ðfollowing€the€transmittal€of€these€Views€to€the€State€party,€information€about€the€measures€taken€toÐ pÀ Ðgive€effect€to€these€Views.€The€State€party€is€also€requested€to€publish€the€Committee's€Views.€Ð `° ÐÌÌ___________________Ð 0€ ÐÌ*€€€€The€following€members€of€the€Committee€participated€in€the€examination€of€the€presentÐ ` Ðcommunication:€Mr.€Ô_ÔAbdelfattahÔ_Ô€Amor,€Mr.€Ô_ÔNisukeÔ_Ô€Ando,€Mr.€Ô_ÔPrafullachandraÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔNatwarlalÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔBhagwatiÔ_Ô,Ð P ÐMs.€Christine€Ô_ÔChanetÔ_Ô,€Mr.€Maurice€Ô_ÔGllÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔAhanhanzoÔ_Ô,€Mr.€Louis€Ô_ÔHenkinÔ_Ô,€Mr.€Ahmed€Ô_ÔTawfikÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔKhalilÔ_Ô,Ð ð@ ÐMr.€Ô_ÔEckartÔ_Ô€Klein,€Mr.€David€Ô_ÔKretzmerÔ_Ô,€Mr.€Ô_ÔRajsoomerÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔLallahÔ_Ô,€Ms.€Cecilia€Medina€Ô_ÔQuirogaÔ_Ô,€Mr.Ð à0 ÐRafael€Ô_ÔRivasÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔPosadaÔ_Ô,€Sir€Nigel€Ô_ÔRodleyÔ_Ô,€Mr.€Martin€Ô_ÔScheininÔ_Ô,€Mr.€Ivan€Shearer,€Mr.€Ô_ÔHipð;ðlitoÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔSolariÔ_ÔÐ Ð  ÐÔ_ÔYrigoyenÔ_Ô€and€Mr.€Maxwell€Ô_ÔYaldenÔ_Ô.Ð À! ÐÌ[Adopted€in€English,€French€and€Spanish,€the€English€text€being€the€original€version.€SubsequentlyÐ  #ð! Ðto€be€issued€also€in€Arabic,€Chinese€and€Russian€as€part€of€the€Committee's€annual€report€to€theÐ $à" ÐGeneral€Assembly.]€Ð €%Ð # ÐÌÌòòNotes€óóÐ P( #& ÐÌ1.€€€The€Czech€and€Slovak€Federal€Republic€ceased€to€exist€on€31€December€1992.€On€22€FebruaryÐ 0*€%( Ð1993,€the€new€Czech€Republic€notified€its€succession€to€the€Covenant€and€the€Optional€Protocol.€Ð  +p&) ÐÌÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÌÓ{Ó