Slivenko Vs. Latvia: European Court Of Human Rights To Offer Verdict In 6 Weeks

The European Court of Human Rights is expected with a verdict on Tatiana Slivenko vs. Latvia in six weeks, say Alexander Asnis and Vitali Portnov, the plaintiff's lawyers, after the court heard Russian national Tatyana Slivenko's complaint. The court heard the plaintiff, her lawyers and the defendant's spokesmen today, and asked them questions. The litigants are granted two weeks to make written replies, following which the court will determine whether the case qualifies for examination on its merits, Messrs. Asnis and Portnov said to RIA Novosti over the telephone. They think it possible for the court to make an immediate conclusion from the replies to specify clauses of the Human Rights Convention which were violated by Latvian authorities. The verdict will create a precedent for ensuing European Court decisions on complaints against Latvian authorities by Russian nationals and ethnic Russians resident in Latvia. Close on twenty such complaints have been lodged for today. Nikolai Slivenko, former Soviet military officer, retired in Lieutenant-Colonel's rank in 1996. Outrages started soon afterwards. The family had identity papers confiscated, their flat in Riga was searched, and the Slivenkos were ordered to leave the country. Nikolai and Tatyana settled in Kursk, provincial centre in European Russia's south, and cannot revisit Riga even for a short time to see their aged parents.