Saakashvili v. Georgia (dec.)

Information Note on the Court’s case-law 260March 2022Saakashvili v. Georgia (dec.) - 6232/20 and 22394/20Decision 1.3.2022 [Section V]Article 35Article 35-1Four-month period (former six-month)Application lodged within legitimate three-month extension of six-month time-limit during critical Spring 2020 period of Covid-19 global pandemic: preliminary objection dismissedFacts – The applications concern, under Articles 6, 7 and 18, the fairness of two separate sets of criminal proceedings in which the applicant, a former President of Georgia, was tried and convicted in absentia of complicity in committing criminal battery, abuse and misuse of authority.Law – Article 35 § 1 (application no. 22394/20): As the contested submission date predated the entry into force of Protocol No. 15 which reduced the applicable time-limit under Article 35 § 1 for lodging applications to four months, the Court …