The case of Varnava and Others V. Turkey

ECHR finds Turkey guilty

(Cyprus Weekly) - STRASBOURG - The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) on Friday found Turkey guilty in the case of a number of missing Greek Cypriots. It also ordered damages to be paid to their families.

Friday’s judgment of the Grand Chamber was in the case of Varnava and Others v. Turkey which dates back to 1990.

“(The Court) holds by sixteen votes to one that there has been a continuing violation of Article 2 of the Convention on account of the failure of the authorities of the respondent State to conduct an effective investigation into the fate of the nine men who disappeared in life-threatening circumstances,” said the 58-page-long judgment.

The applications were introduced before the Court in the name and on behalf of 18 Greek Cypriots.

The ECHR also ordered Turkey to pay, within three months, €12,000 per application, plus any tax that may be chargeable, in respect of non-pecuniary damages.

Also, to pay €8,000 per application, plus any tax that may be chargeable to the applicants or their heirs, in respect of costs and expenses.