ECHR ruling dated October 16, 2018 in the case of Shkitsky and Vodoratskaya (Shkitskiy and Vodoratskaya) v. Russia (applications No. 27863/12 and 66513/12).
The case successfully examined the applications of the applicants that they were deprived of the status of lawyers, allegedly for their expressed opinion of the judges. The case has violated the requirements of Article 10 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.
In 2012, complainants were assisted in preparing applications. Subsequently, the applications were merged and communicated to the Russian Federation.
In their applications, the applicants complained that they had been deprived of the status of lawyers, allegedly for their expressed opinion of the judges.
On 16 October 2018, on applications filed by the applicants, the European Court unanimously decided that in this case the authorities violated the requirements of Article 10 of the Convention (the right to freedom of expression), and ordered the respondent state to pay the applicant 7,500 euros in compensation. As the applicant did not submit any claims for compensation, the Court did not award him any amounts for this reason.